more to life edition30

44
More to Life What does 2015 hold for you? Have YOU been SPLATTERED? £3 Edition30 www.moretolifemag.co.uk More to Life the ANGELS of ATLANTIS

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Another fabulous edition jam packed with articles to kick start 2015.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: More to Life Edition30

More to Life

What does2015 holdfor you

Have YOU beenSPLATTERED

pound3 Edition30wwwmoretolifemagcoukMore to Life

the ANGELS of ATLANTIS

Ammarsquos wishrdquo

The13 Foundation13 Course13 Opening13 the13 Pathways13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 LONDON bull BRISTOL bull YORK bull DUBLIN - SPRING 201513 ldquoThree13 days13 of13 intensive13 Transmission13 from13 Metatron13 along13 with13 two13 lsquogroup13 healing13 sessionsrsquo13 have13 been13 one13 of13 the13 most13 powerful13 experiences13 I13 have13 ever13 had13 This13 is13 an13 investment13 in13 your13 spiritual13 journey13 I13 cannot13 recommend13 it13 more13 strongly13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Jayne13 Lea13 -shy‐13 Editor13 More13 to13 Life13

Metatronic Healingreg bull 13 Unique13 tools13 for13 Personal13 growth13 and13 Spiritual13 Awakening13 13 bull 13 Transformational13 Healing13 to13 Re-shy‐calibrate13 your13 Energy13 System13 13 bull 13 Readily13 clearing13 limiting13 beliefs13 and13 restrictive13 patterns13

bull 13 Metatronic13 Healingreg13 Practitioner13 training

To find out about Metatronic Healingreg course booking or to experience the Divine Healing Clinic audio downloads visit13 wwwmetatronic-lifecom13

Or13 for13 enquiriesdates13 LONDON bull BRISTOL bull YORK bull DUBLIN - SPRING 2015 please13 contact13 Clare13 Glennon13 claremetatronic-shy‐lifecom13 t13 0186513 75113 81013 13 m13 0790313 27613 01813 or13 Richard13 Farmer13 richardmetatronic-shy‐lifecom13 t13 0198913 74013 59013 13 m13 0776613 27813 475

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 3

Edition 30

More to Life magazine is published by More to Life Publications Ltd 1 Liverpool Road North Liverpool L31 2HB T 0151 527 1577 Emoretolifemagaolcom Reg 6927353 VAT 976 5944 53Considerable care has been taken to ensure that the advertisements and features contain accurate information and no liability is accepted by the company for any loss or damage caused by any innacuracy or misprint of any advertisement or feature in this issue

Hi everyone

Happy New Year to all our readers - the start of another chapter in our journey through life Wow How lucky are we

I am so looking forward to the adventure 2015 promises to be - my intention is to try to follow the example of the willow tree in my neighbours garden No matter what Mother Nature has thrown at it this year it has bent and flowed with the demands of the weather and somehow managed to make the morning looking fresh and fabulous

Talking of nature I spent a few days in the Scottish Highlands in November and experienced once again the power of the mountains Their wisdom grace and majesty touched the very deepest part of my soul How long have they been there How much have they seen How many cycles have they watched come and go What stories they could tell of ancient civilisations and bygone centuries And yet they hold their place on the landscape making no comment immune to the madness that goes on around them

Their infinite silence is tangible yet it can consume every cell in your body if you take the time to absorb its simple fresh sweetness It is like nectar

How precious silence is I had been feeling overwhelmed with life - the constant flow of information (invited and otherwise) was taking its toll I was trying to do all the things I should do and little of what I needed to do You know what I mean

We are consumed with demands that we allow ourselves to believe are real At home work sometimes even at our places of worship we find ourselves trying to comform to other peoples ideas of how when and where we should do be go

I made myself a promise in those mountains that in future I will no longer play this game of life by other peoples rules I will listen to my intuition and follow my own guidelines - I know that inner connection will guide me in the right direction My yardstick will be to question my intention - if I am doing something with the right intention I wont go far wrong There I have said it committed it to print even please wish me luck

Love Love LoveIts all you need Jayne Lea

Editor

4 More to Life

Content

30 - I love my ego

26 - the angels of atlantis

32 - how does enlightenment feel

14 - good answers to tough questions

06 - dowsing your decisions

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 5

36 - open to inner peace

22 - a spiritual journey 18 - have you been splattered

20 -what does 2015 hold for you

10 - a message from source

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 2: More to Life Edition30

Ammarsquos wishrdquo

The13 Foundation13 Course13 Opening13 the13 Pathways13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 LONDON bull BRISTOL bull YORK bull DUBLIN - SPRING 201513 ldquoThree13 days13 of13 intensive13 Transmission13 from13 Metatron13 along13 with13 two13 lsquogroup13 healing13 sessionsrsquo13 have13 been13 one13 of13 the13 most13 powerful13 experiences13 I13 have13 ever13 had13 This13 is13 an13 investment13 in13 your13 spiritual13 journey13 I13 cannot13 recommend13 it13 more13 strongly13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Jayne13 Lea13 -shy‐13 Editor13 More13 to13 Life13

Metatronic Healingreg bull 13 Unique13 tools13 for13 Personal13 growth13 and13 Spiritual13 Awakening13 13 bull 13 Transformational13 Healing13 to13 Re-shy‐calibrate13 your13 Energy13 System13 13 bull 13 Readily13 clearing13 limiting13 beliefs13 and13 restrictive13 patterns13

bull 13 Metatronic13 Healingreg13 Practitioner13 training

To find out about Metatronic Healingreg course booking or to experience the Divine Healing Clinic audio downloads visit13 wwwmetatronic-lifecom13

Or13 for13 enquiriesdates13 LONDON bull BRISTOL bull YORK bull DUBLIN - SPRING 2015 please13 contact13 Clare13 Glennon13 claremetatronic-shy‐lifecom13 t13 0186513 75113 81013 13 m13 0790313 27613 01813 or13 Richard13 Farmer13 richardmetatronic-shy‐lifecom13 t13 0198913 74013 59013 13 m13 0776613 27813 475

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 3

Edition 30

More to Life magazine is published by More to Life Publications Ltd 1 Liverpool Road North Liverpool L31 2HB T 0151 527 1577 Emoretolifemagaolcom Reg 6927353 VAT 976 5944 53Considerable care has been taken to ensure that the advertisements and features contain accurate information and no liability is accepted by the company for any loss or damage caused by any innacuracy or misprint of any advertisement or feature in this issue

Hi everyone

Happy New Year to all our readers - the start of another chapter in our journey through life Wow How lucky are we

I am so looking forward to the adventure 2015 promises to be - my intention is to try to follow the example of the willow tree in my neighbours garden No matter what Mother Nature has thrown at it this year it has bent and flowed with the demands of the weather and somehow managed to make the morning looking fresh and fabulous

Talking of nature I spent a few days in the Scottish Highlands in November and experienced once again the power of the mountains Their wisdom grace and majesty touched the very deepest part of my soul How long have they been there How much have they seen How many cycles have they watched come and go What stories they could tell of ancient civilisations and bygone centuries And yet they hold their place on the landscape making no comment immune to the madness that goes on around them

Their infinite silence is tangible yet it can consume every cell in your body if you take the time to absorb its simple fresh sweetness It is like nectar

How precious silence is I had been feeling overwhelmed with life - the constant flow of information (invited and otherwise) was taking its toll I was trying to do all the things I should do and little of what I needed to do You know what I mean

We are consumed with demands that we allow ourselves to believe are real At home work sometimes even at our places of worship we find ourselves trying to comform to other peoples ideas of how when and where we should do be go

I made myself a promise in those mountains that in future I will no longer play this game of life by other peoples rules I will listen to my intuition and follow my own guidelines - I know that inner connection will guide me in the right direction My yardstick will be to question my intention - if I am doing something with the right intention I wont go far wrong There I have said it committed it to print even please wish me luck

Love Love LoveIts all you need Jayne Lea

Editor

4 More to Life

Content

30 - I love my ego

26 - the angels of atlantis

32 - how does enlightenment feel

14 - good answers to tough questions

06 - dowsing your decisions

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 5

36 - open to inner peace

22 - a spiritual journey 18 - have you been splattered

20 -what does 2015 hold for you

10 - a message from source

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 3: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 3

Edition 30

More to Life magazine is published by More to Life Publications Ltd 1 Liverpool Road North Liverpool L31 2HB T 0151 527 1577 Emoretolifemagaolcom Reg 6927353 VAT 976 5944 53Considerable care has been taken to ensure that the advertisements and features contain accurate information and no liability is accepted by the company for any loss or damage caused by any innacuracy or misprint of any advertisement or feature in this issue

Hi everyone

Happy New Year to all our readers - the start of another chapter in our journey through life Wow How lucky are we

I am so looking forward to the adventure 2015 promises to be - my intention is to try to follow the example of the willow tree in my neighbours garden No matter what Mother Nature has thrown at it this year it has bent and flowed with the demands of the weather and somehow managed to make the morning looking fresh and fabulous

Talking of nature I spent a few days in the Scottish Highlands in November and experienced once again the power of the mountains Their wisdom grace and majesty touched the very deepest part of my soul How long have they been there How much have they seen How many cycles have they watched come and go What stories they could tell of ancient civilisations and bygone centuries And yet they hold their place on the landscape making no comment immune to the madness that goes on around them

Their infinite silence is tangible yet it can consume every cell in your body if you take the time to absorb its simple fresh sweetness It is like nectar

How precious silence is I had been feeling overwhelmed with life - the constant flow of information (invited and otherwise) was taking its toll I was trying to do all the things I should do and little of what I needed to do You know what I mean

We are consumed with demands that we allow ourselves to believe are real At home work sometimes even at our places of worship we find ourselves trying to comform to other peoples ideas of how when and where we should do be go

I made myself a promise in those mountains that in future I will no longer play this game of life by other peoples rules I will listen to my intuition and follow my own guidelines - I know that inner connection will guide me in the right direction My yardstick will be to question my intention - if I am doing something with the right intention I wont go far wrong There I have said it committed it to print even please wish me luck

Love Love LoveIts all you need Jayne Lea

Editor

4 More to Life

Content

30 - I love my ego

26 - the angels of atlantis

32 - how does enlightenment feel

14 - good answers to tough questions

06 - dowsing your decisions

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 5

36 - open to inner peace

22 - a spiritual journey 18 - have you been splattered

20 -what does 2015 hold for you

10 - a message from source

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 4: More to Life Edition30

4 More to Life

Content

30 - I love my ego

26 - the angels of atlantis

32 - how does enlightenment feel

14 - good answers to tough questions

06 - dowsing your decisions

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 5

36 - open to inner peace

22 - a spiritual journey 18 - have you been splattered

20 -what does 2015 hold for you

10 - a message from source

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 5: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 5

36 - open to inner peace

22 - a spiritual journey 18 - have you been splattered

20 -what does 2015 hold for you

10 - a message from source

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 6: More to Life Edition30

6 More to Life

we all have free will here on mother earth

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 7: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 7

With the final explosion of fireworks and the last toll of the bells heralding a New Year our thoughts often turn to resolutions and what in this case is 2015 going to bring us

Will it be any better or worse than the year we have just waved goodbye toSomeone once told me ldquoThe good thing about making New Yearrsquos resolutions is being able to break themrdquo We lost touch as I left school - I often wonder what hap-pened to him he could be the CEO of a large company or be in jail

So what is a resolution

Why are they so easily forgotten

Is there a better way of ensuring a good year is had

Resolution (New Year) a commitment that an individual makes on January 1st

Resolution (Audio) a measure of the quality of sound

Resolution (Debate) the statement in which policy is discussed

Resolution (Law) a written motion adopted by a ruling body

The common link between them is either noise or per-haps a ruling is a better way of putting it We are trying to commit ourselves to something rigid and inflexible

I want to lose weight

I want to stop drinking

I want to move house

I want a job with more money

I want a new life

I want I want I want

What happened to lsquoI willrsquo We all have free will here on Mother Earth so why do we confine ourselves to such strict thinking We are here to learn lessons both good and not so good Perhaps we should call them lsquoNew Year Decisionsrsquo not resolutions

Dowsing your Decisions

Putting the blinkers on can inhabit our vision - we need to clearly see left right and ahead to be able to avoid pitfalls But what about behind you There al-ways seems to be something sneaking up on us unexpected problems and challenges to deal with That is where dowsing comes in it helps us in de-cision making health matters food allergies work stress levels and ultimately helps us to start taking control of our own lives

Dowsing has been with us for thousands of years the Chinese used it as did the Egyptians and perhaps this is its downfall It can often be seen as old fash-ioned or perhaps the work of the devil (thanks to Martin Luther) Most people believe dowsers purely find water but that is just a small part of a very big picture

How to Dowse

Firstly you need to start using the L rods or pendulum and then practice practice practice It is like rid-ing a bike the more you do it the better you get Start with small issues first test the water You dont want to dowse life changing decisions until you are confident in your responses

So how do we use a pendulum

To quote from my book lsquoHeal Your Homersquo There is no one pendulum better than another some people like a beautiful crystal whilst others solid brass or perhaps wood Once chosen hold the pendulum between thumb and forefinger so that there is only 2-3rdquo of cord between your fingers and the actual pendulum This will enable the heavy bit at the end to give a quick and smooth response

Using either hand set the pendulum in motion swing-ing gently back and forth (this is your neutral position) Then ask it to show you your yes response and note the movement Follow this by asking for your no gtgt

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 8: More to Life Edition30

8 More to Life

gtgtDo check your responses regularly by asking three verifiable questions (for ex-ample is it raining outside Am I wearing a blue shirt today Is it Monday) The reason for this Responses can change

Now you need to practice practice practice

Start to ask questions such as lsquoWhen will the post arriversquolsquoWill it be raining tomorrow rsquolsquoWhen will the telephone next ringrsquolsquoIs this particular foodstuff good for mersquo

This way you will start to build your confi-dence with the pendulum but donrsquot forget that the answer is only as good as your ques-tion therefore you need to ask the big wide searching question first and then start to narrow the subject down as quickly as pos-sible There are ways of getting more than just a yes or no from your pendulum but I would suggest that you attend a dowsing workshop if you would like to find out more

Once you are happy with your responses it is time to look at making decisions for 2015 Please donrsquot forget that life makes us who we are today all experiences are valuable both good and bad and that we are all in-dividuals

So where do we start

Firstly write down a series of questions that you would like the answers to They need to be to the point and as unambig-uous as possible Use the lsquorainingrsquo ques-tion for example if you got arsquoyesrsquo and then it didnt rain in your area you have to real-ise that it did rain somewhere in the world Hence the lsquoyesrsquo answer The question has to be framed correctly

Adrian Incledon-Webber is a profession-al dowser geomancer (geopathic stress) and spirit worker In 2013 he successful published his first book called lsquoHeal Your Homersquo a self help guide on how to deal with the noxious energies found within the home and family available from his website wwwdowsingspiritscouk and Amazon He teaches a range of spiritual and dowsing courses around the country and gives regular talks

Contact Adrian on adriandowsingspiritscouk

or on 01423 781974

See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 9: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 9

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 10: More to Life Edition30

10 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 11: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 11

Being in the mountains of Thailand really sparked my passion for writ-ing It was just me and nature with the luxury of a tent and hammock since I couldnt afford guest houses

I was living with no money and it was a real eye-opener not only from the spiritual one-with-nature point of view but also to how kind and hospitable people can be (including my support-ive parents) One could say that peoplersquos kind-ness and this sense of unity is spiritual too since being lsquospirit-u-allyrsquo anything means having spirit as your ally I absolutely love language and am passion-ate about words which is why I choose to express myself through poetry Words carry the energy of an experience the vibration of it so travelling through poetry is like entering a time warp back to the ac-tual awareness of what is being described

So I focused all my energy towards creating new poems for the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Com-petition I love sharing my personal insights into consciousness and what I learned from at least a hundred strangers individual stories on my travels and it felt right to do so in a lyrically transcenden-tal way I receive great inspiration from listening to others so it was natural to want to start sharing my own experiences and concepts

For example I have a powerful memory of performing lsquoA Journey Through Gracersquo around a fire in a small community festival I had my eyes closed as this al-lows me to feel the essence strongly and go on the inner journey when I opened my eyes there were five people around me and a girl whose native language wasnt English touched my hands and said ldquoSister I didnt understand what you said but I felt every word of itrdquo Moments like this are why I express myself poetically

This is a journey of Grace

a story from the sounds of space

of the timeless time that moves apace

Allow the words on the page to recreate the dream

travel through the realms of mind the unknown and unseen

as you perceive her story through the mystery we call reality

The feet that lead my body

hollow to the place where the peace within dwells

dream to destiny destiny to dream inseparable

(Extract from A Journey Through Grace)

A Message from Source

One of the main themes of my book lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo is how connected we all are and that we are one consciousness experiencing itself through differing parts or notes In other words we are musical rhythms in a magical dance The new scien-tific findings regarding the oneness of all life and the vibrations of energy support the concept that we are all equally significant in the grand scheme of things I explore the power of sound hence the beautiful sacred geometric illustrations throughout the book for healing purposes these are otherwise known as lsquosonic geometryrsquo where we observe the frequencies constructing the form Our connectedness proves that the only thing that truly matters is love gtgt

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 12: More to Life Edition30

12 More to Life

gtgtMy writing also frequently delves into the real meaning of perception of there never being a right or wrong just different ways to look at the same point in time and space

Even though I do find the science behind all these themes fascinating the only way I can capture their es-sence is when tuned into lsquothe higher mindrsquo or Source and write from the right-brain This seems to have a powerful effect when one listens aloud to the es-sence of the words as they have been created from a unity consciousness Irsquove been told that this is so even by those who do not normally appreciate po-etry Some of my friends have described the poem lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo as a blueprint and the feelings and memories I get from journeying through the words is the reason I put all my faith and energy into this book being published Whenever I feel lost in the mundane lsquothe Messagersquo gives me a sense of purpose and helps me remember to relive the magic

We are the rainbow generation

the light split into colour due to the physicality of observation

the one harmonious sound being distorted through differing notes

Musical rhythms in a magical dance

awakening from our repetitive trance

that the imbalance has created

throughout all patterns and ages

A snap-shot within a snap-shot above to below

universal cycles reflecting in the world we think we know

So if we choose to get in tune with what is occurring on a cosmic scale

being the light that shines and seeing through the veil

the world of magic music lighthellip

the dancing heartbeat we call life

can be lived by us moment to moment

enabling the planet we need and love to survive

(Extract from A Message From Source)

From an individual atom to the cosmos as a whole and through all the notes of the infinite unknown spaces inbetween the themes of lsquoA Message From Sourcersquo be-come merged into a flowing river of memory taking each of us on a journey through consciousness to the point where it all begins and never ends our heart

A Message From Source is the winner of the Lo-cal Legend Spiritual Writing Competition wwwlocal-legendcouk

Grace Puskas

wwwgracepuskasmoon-fruitcom

the dancing heartbeat we call life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 13: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 13

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 14: More to Life Edition30

14 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 15: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 15

So we are often faced with important challenges and look for good advice not only about how things might turn out but also how best to deal with difficult situa-tions in meaningful and ethical ways The trouble is wersquove become conditioned to looking for answers from other people teachers therapists clairvoyants the Internethellip But there is a loving unconditional and wise source of information and guidance much clos-er to home our own higher minds at the deepest lev-el know us better than anyone else and have all the knowledge that we need

Sometimes we access this in our dreams waking up convinced that Someone is telling us Something But dreams are fleeting easily forgotten and difficult to in-terpret The ancient Chinese devised a way of bring-ing out that wisdom deliberately into our waking con-sciousness The I Ching (or Book of Changes) is a set of oracles that anyone can easily learn to use for oneself

Its responses to our questions whether practical or spiritual are always astonishingly appropriate offer-ing guidance on the real factors underlying our situ-ation and the proper way to approach them And it is head and shoulders above virtually all other forms of divination in going even further suggesting the likely outcomes of our decisions too

Good Answers toTough QuestionsShould I apply for this job Will my new relationship be hap-py How should I deal with my bullying boss Can I improve my finances Our lives are compli-cated these days and we often feel stressed and insecure demanding more of ourselves and our relation-ships than any generation before us We want to be happy but we also want our lives to be purposeful and to have spiritual meaning

The I Ching is the oldest book in continuous publica-tion in the world and is used by millions of people

Its essential philosophy is that our human lives have rhythms and seasons just as nature does governed by subtle energies that we are usually quite unconscious of However in our deepest minds we understand these energies and because our physical and psychic sens-es pick up a huge amount of information at these in-ner levels we know whatrsquos really going on and how the tides of our lives are turning

Herersquos an example A friend was having no success with her writing despite several positive comments from others After years of effort she was thinking of giving up but consulted the I Ching with the question ldquoHow will my work develop in the next yearrdquo

This is one of those situations where our lsquofatersquo seems out of our own hands Yes we may believe wholeheart-edly in our work but there are so many unknown factors beyond our control like the demand for that work and contacting the right people at the right timegtgt

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 16: More to Life Edition30

16 More to Life

gtgtBut the oracle knows that every life has a rhythm and a meaning The bookrsquos response was a chapter called lsquoPossession In Great Measurersquo one of the most favour-able in the set It describes a propitious time when ldquopower is expressedhelliprdquo leading to personal wealth In particular the book advised that ldquogiving to the peoplerdquo would bring a rise in status this could only be inter-preted as encouragement to keep writing and offering it for publication (There was much more in the reading relating to the spiritual growth we achieve by deter-minedly following the right pathhellip) Well my friend did keep going and thanks to an out-of-the-blue meeting that couldnrsquot possibly have been foreseen at the time her novel was published within a year

How did a four thousand year old Chinese book know that Of course it didnrsquot But somehow somewhere in the deepest mind where it is connected with every oth-er mind my friend knew it The I Ching was just a meth-od to bring that awareness out into the open

Carl Jung believed that using the book is a special case of synchronicity A consultation links the unconscious mind and all its wisdom with our waking awareness

when we deliberately carry out some random physical act which the I Ching is designed to interpret The com-mon method is to toss three coins This results in four possible combinations of heads and tails each corre-sponding to a type of energy represented by a graph-ic line The process is repeated to give six such lines called a lsquohexagramrsquo and each possible hexagram has a chapter of the book devoted to it The skill then is to interpret those lines guided by the commentaries on their meanings in the book

The first proper western translation was made by Rich-ard Wilhelm in the early twentieth century and was published in English with a Foreword by Jung in 1951 Some of the language is quite esoteric and symbolic so several more modern translations have appeared since though few of them seem to capture the original spirit and depth of the book

With over thirty yearsrsquo experience of using the I Ching I am still knocked out by its accuracy and spiritual guidance It deserves to be demystified and available to everyone

Nigel Peace is the author of Lighting The Path (ISBN 978-1-907203-26-8 also an eBook) a down-to-earth guide to the I Ching how to form the question various methods of consultation and how to interpret the answers including many true examples of readings as well as a comprehensive glossary of the bookrsquos phrases He has also written on dreams and synchronicity

wwwspiritrevelationscom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 17: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 17

People everywhere are waking up and long for change convinced that a better world is possible Awaited by people of all faiths and those of none Maitreya the World Teacher is here to inspire us to re-build our world Maitreya says ldquoSharing and Justice Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars Now My friends shall we anchor them in the worldrdquo For 40 years Benjamin Creme has been preparing the way for the emergence of Maitreya the World Teacher and the Masters of Wisdom Millions around the world have heard Cremersquos lsquomessage of hopersquo and wait expectantly for this momentous event

ldquoWhen I read Share International information it was like lighting a lamp of hope that had previously faded awayhellip It gave me back the hope and joy that I had lostrdquo ndash AP Edinburgh UK

For information and Benjamin Cremersquos London lectures visit

wwwshare-internationalorg

A New World in the making

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 18: More to Life Edition30

18 More to Life

Mindfulness is the buzzword currently spreading through the masses even being taken on board in the Armed Forces and Government But what exactly is mindfulness

Having taught people about mind-fulness for over ten years I under-stand it is essential to know what your mind is doing for it is part-ly responsible for creating your world The mind works with your feelings - interacts with them and creates behaviour

Did you know that your subconscious logs every-thing you experience as fact

Whether you are watching TV a film or playing a game the emotional responses will be yours Not the full experience of the story line or event but the emotional and mental impacts will be expe-rienced in real time The shock tragedy sorrow happiness and bliss positive and negative will all be logged as part of you Memories will be stored on different levels internally

Certainly the shock from birth can and does act as a foundation for lifersquos coping strategies with memories logged from the first moments of life setting the base line agenda For years most peo-ple have believed that the mind is the only place where memories are stored and yet Science and technology have now shown us we store memories all over the body Yes in the mind but also in the energetics cells and DNA In fact Quantum Physics has proved that the biological systems including the cells and tissue of the body hold memories

emotionally we react to the mind

and vice versa The mind and the emotions also affect our energetics and consciousness they are a two way street of commu-nication action and reaction

For example an emotionally charged (angry hysteri-cal) individual will send out negative energies to those around them Psychics can see this energetically but just imagine if we could all see the energies clearly ndash how eye opening would that be

As a psychic myself I see these energies as black splodges of varying degrees of tar coating our walls floors and environment When negative ener-gy is aimed at one particular person like a homing device the impact will be immediate Those who are lsquosplatteredrsquo will experience reduced energy lev-els as well as changes to their vision and hearing due to the shock to their systems It will be received as anxiety in the Solar Plexus Sacral Plexus and heart area Victims will have lowered consciousness every part of the individual will respond to these powerful emotional conditions A scary thought with automation in process

Recently I spoke to a DARE practitioner who had been angry with her eight year old son She raised her voice while telling him off and he responded with

ldquoYou are splattering me with your angerrdquo

With such a switched on boy hitting back so sharp-ly she soon realised he was right and apologized She had taught her son well He had recognised the situation and felt the impact instantly Children are our teachers we can protect them with our choice of words and actions

Certainly my anecdotal evidence has come from experience as a clinical practitioner and a teacher of alternative practices with several decades of one-to-one therapy experience the amassed evidence supports this theory

hate and anger are not born with us they

are taught through life

Individuals who have stepped up for Dissolve and Resolve Emotionsreg (DAREtrade) therapy have found that aspects of their health issues have originated from such situations being lsquosplatteredrsquo even from a young age absorbing raw negative emotions insti-gating all sorts of health and psychological issues with mindsets patterns and vocabulary fuelling fur-ther internal decline eventually manifesting itself as dis-ease

Nelson Mandela spoke out saying that lsquohate and anger are not born with us they are taught through lifersquo

Graham Allen MPrsquos Early Interventionrsquo 2011 report agrees that anger is already formed by the age of three that our behavior is mirrored and learnt through example

Bringing past life influences into the equation com-plicates matters

From a clinical viewpoint it is understood that in-ternal biological responses come from our thoughts words and emotions in the form of hormonal and nervous system reactions peptides and chemicals released from emotional and psychological triggers

In essence the hormonal response coats the cells as the cells replicate in the same condition the hormones will either support or decline the cell dependent upon the chemical reaction from the emo-tions

We donrsquot fully understand the mind or our emotions they seem virtual Generally we are unaware that we create and receive internally Internal examination gives answers formed from lack unhappiness and doubt causing us to become a shell of our real selfhellip Who is in charge - you or your mind

Thankfully there is help is at hand - you are in charge and you can stop the struggle make the changes within and create better well-being and health Make 2015 count Remove the mind and emo-tional triggers that fuel the chemical response

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 19: More to Life Edition30

Have You Been Splattered

Joy Wisdom renowned Tutor Clinical Practitioner Author Healer and Speak-er founder of the ZEST of Lifereg pro-gramme Dissolve and Resolve Emo-tionsreg (DARE) trade NEW practitioners programme (CPD approved)

lsquoShell of Soulrsquo Joyrsquos second book helps with further understanding of mindful-ness and enjoy the journey Available from Amazon authors website and good book shops wwwallonuscouk See advert on page 29

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 20: More to Life Edition30

20 More to Life

2015 What does it hold for you

Article by Joylina Goodings

wwwjoylinacom

Please see advert on page 39

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 21: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 21

As an overall year 8 2015 brings with it the vibrations of 8 Assisting us in raising our self-confidence self-esteem and allowing us to step into our personal power in all areas of our lives 8 is also connected to finance abundance wealth and prosperity so at last if we work together the world will come out of recession 8 also encourages us to take re-sponsibility for our choices and for our free will as it breaks down the barriers to transformation whilst it gives us clarity and courage to create our vision and transform our world for the better 8 brings peace balance and har-mony

A number of planets are retrograde this year and during these retrograde phases we are asked to look more deeply into ourselves and to release what blocks us from becoming all of ourselves Whichever is your per-sonal year number and whichever house each retrograde planet is placed within your personal astrological chart obviously makes all the difference

We enter 2015 with Jupiter already retrograde in Leo (8 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) Jupiter is the Bringer of Joy and planet of good luck During this retrograde pe-riod it will encourage us to let go of the more material aspects of life and seek inner peace encouraging us to think for ourselves and find more spiritual answers to our problems Jupiter and Leo will give us strength and energy to focus on and connect to raising ever-expanding forms of higher truth and share a deeper connection with all As Jupiter comes out of retrograde in April we will regain our new-found confidence and strength but with a more spiritual clarity and direction

Pluto turns retrograde in Capricorn (16 April ndash 24 Sep-tember 2015) This is a period of facing our individual and collective control issues a time to re-evaluate what we value most It makes us face our fears of letting go but with Capricornrsquos more grounding influence allowing us to learn from history and let go without fear for Pluto works with 8 to release karma

Saturn turns retrograde in Scorpio (14 March to 13 August 2015) Saturn is a hard taskmaster and has a tendency to make it feel as if everything is moving ultra slowly It does however force us to confront and release all issues relating to authority Scorpiorsquos influence makes us seek further and connect to our inner being and divine nature

Chiron is retrograde in Pisces (23 June to 27 November 2015) encouraging those who are led by control power and greed to take risks and to give into their hedonistic greed thus allowing their nefarious practices to come to light Chiron is known as the wounded healer giving us all including those less scrupulous ample opportunity to go into our emotions reflect on what we can do different-ly and heal ourselves He again brings to the fore karmic issues needing to be resolved

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces from 11 June to 18 November 2015 This is when we start to question our logic and esoteric matters and intuition come to the fore The Pisces influence allows us to connect to our emotions and communicate our deeper feelings through increasing creativity and artistic ability At this time more and more people will develop their own spirituality and connect to their own psychic and intui-tive abilities

Uranus is retrograde from 25 July until Christmas day 2015 in Aries thus giving us collectively the opportunity to see our own true path with Aries giving us the energy to fight any inner battles necessary to follow that path During this time we can all expect the unexpected

Magna Carta ndash the factsThe Pope excommunicated John in 1209 This

meant that John could never get to Heaven until the Pope withdrew the excommunica-

tion Faced with this John climbed down and accepted the power of the Catholic Church

giving them many privileges in 1214

1214 was a disastrous year for John for another reason Once again he suffered

military defeat in an attempt to get back his territory in northern France He returned to London demanding more money from taxes This time the barons were not willing to lis-

ten and rebelled against his power

The barons captured London However they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215 (a 9 year) both sides were willing to discuss matters and eventually

sign this very important document bringing about completion

Venus the planet of love turns retrograde in Gemini (25 July to 6 September 2015) giving us an opportunity to focus on both sides of our relationships with ourselves our loved ones and our world forcing us to strip away all and any illusions We will no longer be able to lie to ourselves or each other

800 years ago the Magna Carta was signed being the first charter of human rights and heralding a new era of democracy

You can almost feel the issues of the planets being played out canrsquot you The powerful and greedy being brought down by their own acts and the people finding courage to stand firm and bring change for the good of all

We have seen this happening repeatedly in the last few years with many cupboards being cleared of their skele-tons What we sow this year will be reaped in 2016 (a 9 year) and for many years into the future

8 is also the number of the spiritual law of lsquoCause and Ef-fectrsquo - as we take responsibility for our thoughts feelings actions the results of which manifest in our individual lives and the world we live in so we create the clarity necessary to change

8 is the number of Spiritual Enlightenment of Karma creating peace balance and harmony in the each and every one of us in the world and across all directions of time In the Tarot the major arcana card of 8 is strength so as we connect to our inner strength wisdom vision and desire to expand our spiritual consciousness then we create peace balance and harmony

We each uniquely will undertake this year but generally for all of us 2015 will be a lucky year for everyone as we move towards 2016 a year of completion and new beginnings There will be plenty of opportunities and all we have to do is have the courage to take them Whether you are looking for change in work love career finances home or anything else

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 22: More to Life Edition30

22 More to Life

Have you felt somehow that you have never really fitted in never really belonged almost as if you have been beamed down from some distant planet Many people have these feelings as children and young adults and it is not until we realise that we are not on our own with these feelings and that many of us seem to share them that we can sigh in relief with the knowledge that we are not alone

Following a spiritual pathway is not the norm for most of us The supernatural can be very frightening to a young person and fear is a common factor in a young life And we all know how crippling fear can be fear of the dark fear of the unknown fear of fear Consequently we tend to bury our spiritual intuitions and knowings It is only when we fully embrace our true selves and step into the divine light that the fear will be dispelled and we will wonder at the power it had over every aspect of our lives

Have you always drawn those to you those who need to talk and freely unburden themselves This can happen anywhere in a bus queue a supermarket on a train in the home or workplace These people can see or sense your light your healing abilities This is not a conscious thing but to do with the energy you emit to which others are drawn This also seems to be a common thread weaving through many of our lives

Have you had to suffer in your life Maybe you had an abusive childhood a parent who didnt love you This damage to a young person will be carried with them and played out in every relationship they have It is a continuous cycle of pain and rejection which follows us

JOURNEYHaving spent the last 24 years as a healer I have come to see the patterns that seem to affect all those on a spiritual pathway

It seems there is an archetypical road which we light workers follow

Certain aspects of ones own life show themselves in the lives of those who seek our help There are many parallels that provide us with the understanding and empathy to be able to resonate with the experiences of others

until we are ready to grow beyond these experiences to accept to forgive and to bless those who have caused us damage to thank them for the lessons they have taught us

Maybe you have suffered loss illness poverty homelessness loneliness and a multitude of troubles over the years You know what it is like to travel through the dark night of the soul Once you step into the light you can see things from a different perspective and actually be grateful for the things that life has seemingly thrown at you You can sit and truly be with another human being and you will have an understanding of and empathy with what they are going through

Have you always felt that there was a hole somewhere inside you which you have struggled to fill That something is missing in your life We look in all sorts of places for this fulfilment in relationships in our jobs our possessions or our addictions and yet we never find that missing part - until we step into the light and find the profound joy of helping others of offering to be a channel for healing Then we can bless and accept all those things which have shaped us

A Spiritual

Then perhaps we can consider the possibility of reincarnation the belief that our purpose in this life is to learn and to grow spiritually that we will have many lifetimes as we learn all we need to in order for us to transcend the material world and take our places in the higher planes of existence

Theories of reincarnation tell us that we do choose the conditions of our birth and our life experiences in order for our Soul to learn and grow from every condition of human existence Personally when I began along my spiritual journey I found myself totally rejecting this theory Why would I have chosen to experience such hardship such pain On the face of it it made no sense

But it soon became impossible to reject this notion completely out of hand Now this seems to me the only plausible explanation of our existence The freedom of accepting this is wonderfully freeing liberating The biggest realisation I reached was that if I did indeed choose my life then there was no one to blame no one to hate no need to still be a victim This inevitably led me to being able to forgive those by whom I had felt rejected especially my father This realisation totally changed my life that hard lump which I had carried in my heart was gone I was free I was really able to live my life fully

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 23: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 23

Kathy Searle at The Seekers Trust Visit wwwtheseekerstrustorguk or see advert on page 25

This catalyst enabled me to make sense of all I had gone through Most importantly this propelled me into a life of love and service of healing and

helping others to find a way through the darkest of nights the deepest despair to help them to be bathed in the wonderful healing light

which is there for all to access

We all share so many archetypal patterns and once we can recognise these similarities and bond with each other we can

cleanse our souls and begin the next stage of our journey towards enlightenment

I feel deeply honoured to have come full circle from the place of my birth the centre founded by my own Grandfather After many years in the wilderness

I was led and guided back to The Seekers Trust and the joy and peace I have today have only

been earned by overcoming many seeming difficulties which in retrospect were

indeed blessings in disguise

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 24: More to Life Edition30

26 More to Life

AngelsAtlantisthe

of

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 25: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 27

In the legends of the Middle East there exists an ancient story which concerns the role of Angels appointed by the Creator The tale tells how the Infinite One made a statue of clay in the image of his or her own likeness and asked the Soul to enter it But the Soul refused for to be captured thus meant sure im-prisonment and the soulrsquos essence was to love inclusively moving through the cosmos in pure joy liberated by supernal ecstasy

Through infinite wisdom the Creator asked the Angelic Kingdom to sing such seraphic music and the Soul became so enchanted so deeply stirred by the magic of this celestial sound that the Soul agreed to enter the body of clay and so began the embodiment of Adam Kadmon - so began human life

Angels and Celestial Spirits have always existed - in the pages of sacred and mystical texts in the minds and hearts of ordinary human beings and in their ubiquitous acts that have lovingly supported humanity Wherever they may be whatever form they may take and whenever they appear - Angels as mes-sengers of the Divine are suffused with the powerful force of love created through the furnace of the cos-mos Thus they are encoded with the passion and praise formed from the very breath of the Creator This quickens their hearts to live out the beauty of the great song of the Soul the harmony that once enchanted humanity into existence

Since the Italian Renaissance Angels have been paint-ed as human beings with wings although Irsquove always seen Angels as Orbs Seen that is since a remarkable encounter with twelve such light beings on Glaston-bury Tor during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 In those early days in our search for spiritual intelli-gence away from the confines set by oppressive reli-gious establishments it was extremely unusual to see circles of plasma energy Whereas during our current era through digital photography and the viral social networks conjured by the magical allure of the lsquointer-netrsquo we are regularly presented with these extraor-dinary phenomena Indeed in one recent video Irsquove seen two golden orbs create a Crop Circlegtgt

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 26: More to Life Edition30

28 More to Life

gtgtNot surprisingly my conversation in those early days about these brilliant balls of light was sparse - particularly as my unseen guides had requested dis-cretion Until that is I read the early Christian mys-tics in a capacious study of Angelology and found that Angels were believed to be orbs of light suffused with Godrsquos love and splendor At least so believed Thom-as Aquinas St John of the Cross and Hildegard von Bingen

To this day we gaze in awe and wonder at the undi-minished beauty of the great Painterrsquos renditions of Angelic form Works that are mostly based on the Old Testament stories of Angels as we see in Ezekiel Chapter One when Angels appear to the prophet with four faces man lion ox and eagle possessing several wings

angels were believed to be orbs of light

The great painters of the differing renaissance periods in Italy England and France gave us lavish depictions of the beauty of the Angelic host Indeed during the nineteenth centuryrsquos expansion of entrepreneurial wealth and the burgeoning success of western com-merce men and women viewed the waste of indus-trialization through the disenchanted faces of certain human angels Namely as the machines tore into the belly of Mother Earth as the factory furnaces polluted her lofty skies Edward Burne- Jones the great Victori-an painter wrote

ldquoWhen they build another machine I will paint anoth-er Angelrdquo

The Twelve Angels of Atlantis work with me and in order to take their wonderment further into the em-bodiment of we humans they accord themselves ar-chetypal traits that penetrate the very membrane of our individual and collective consciousness These archetypes can be seen as keys to our consciousness and illustrate aspects of our own lsquopersonalityrsquo For ex-ample if we gaze at the lapis lazuli-orb of Gabriel the Divine Messenger a sacred oracle opens through the lineage of the wisdom traditions as though from Godrsquos voice itself

These pathways move through the sands of time from great Atlantis to the Egyptian God Thoth and further still

Thoth was regarded in Egypt as the lsquoScribe Messen-ger of the Godsrsquo and then subsequently appears three thousand years later as the Greek lsquoHermesrsquo and the Roman lsquoMercuryrsquo - beings that brought messages from the Gods to humanity often engaging in spectacular acts to save humans from peril For Angels are mes-sengers of God and love for the sake of love through the consciousness of divine grace Therefore they only respond when we request of them their sweet love and guidance

pathways move through the sands

of timeTo bring Angelic love more directly into our minds and bodies Irsquove produced a best-selling Atlantean Oracle a book and a series of Icons depicting the twelve An-gels These inspirations communicate to us as though Gabriel the Divine Messenger who brought the Koran to Mohammad and the annunciation to Mary and Elizabeth was literally speaking to us The witness of this Angel reminds us of how inspired action may be wrought by the sacred jewels such as love grace and wisdom

Similarly we may gaze on the violet-orb of Michael the Cosmic Leader who overshadowed Osiris the lsquoMag-nanimous Leaderrsquo Osiris with Michaelrsquos aid led the Egyptian people through a golden age of prosperity in pre-dynastic times Then later emerged as the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter helping our evolution through establishing the notion of lsquopersonal sover-eigntyrsquo and the I AM PRESENCE For Michael inspires the essence of leadership enchantment patience and the ability to transmute challenges into divine power

In a flash the Angels take on a new clarity and might for if we allow their beauty and love to penetrate our lives we also allow an old grace to ease our path into the discovery a new virtue Who wouldnrsquot wish to be ravished thus and at this time of unprecedented change

Stewart Pearce is a world renowned Master of Voice amp Performance Coach with a career spanning three decades enhancing the presen-tations of people like Margaret Thatcher Vanessa Redgrave Diana Princess of Wales Dame Anita Roddick and the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC BID to name just a few Stewart was Head of Voice at the Webber Douglas Academy from 1980-1997 and Master of Voice at Shakespearersquos Globe from 1997-2008

Stewart is also an inveterate Sound Healer Seer and Angel Medium having received a body of work through Angelic transmission during the Harmonic Convergence of 1987 THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE as a temple of sound healing teaches the intelligence and compassion of the heart through the understanding that we each have a unique signature sound which is the song of our soul

Stewart has published THE ALCHEMY OF VOICE THE HEARTrsquoS NOTE the ANGELS OF ATLANTIS ORACLE and THE ANGELS OF ATLANTIS wwwfindhornpresscom wwwthealchemyofvoicecom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 27: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 29

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 28: More to Life Edition30

30 More to Life

Divide and rulersquo is a motto that has served those who wish to control and subjugate others very well indeed This lsquoplanrsquo is not just used on the battlefield or in political economic social and religious spheres but more recently in the spiritual realm too It seeks to set us at odds with ourselves to do battle with an even more insidious lsquoenemyrsquo that has been labelled as lsquothe egorsquo

When all else fails when the terrorists the State aliens forces of Nature and even the lsquodevilrsquo no longer are motive enough to drive apart the lsquokinship of hu-manityrsquo then those that fear only losing control will ask us to lsquogo deep withinrsquo to wage war on ourselves and seek separation from the dreaded ego Do not be fooled for when you make it your mission to un-derstand and nurture rather than hate and destroy starting with your ego (an inseparable part of who you are) then and only then can you really lsquosee the lightrsquohellip

How often have we been told that the lsquoegorsquo is bad something we must master or even detach ourselves from And we wonder why it seems such a battle to lsquofulfil our potentialrsquo elevate our vibration or attain Nirvanahellipitrsquos like trying to climb a mountain with one eye one ear one leg one arm and only half our wits about us Bloody hard

Our ego is part of what makes us human what allows us emotional expression part of our drive our mo-tivation and our determination It helps us relate to others and to the world at large By its very definition the ego seeks to realise our fundamental needs whilst still taking into consideration our spiritual or more elevated desires It is the co-pilot on our journey through life and if we are constantly trying to push it out of the car no wonder it eventually wants to get into the driving seat

Some people would argue that the ego plays host to all that seems negative about a person be it their greed their vanity selfishness arrogance even intel-lect and spiritual superiority On that basis one could argue that the major religions of this world today were founded primarily by individual men with egos ran amuck completely unchecked It is so easy to clump together all that is lsquogoodrsquo all that is lsquobadrsquo and then address your energy accordingly but in doing so you only feed into the bad stuff by starving it of your care and attention I openly admit to enjoying praise particularly for the things I really care about my fam-ily and my work for example and I like to think when it comes to work that yes I do a good job and that I have a talent for it However I also know that this has come about and is able to be realised because of the support of others the kind words and encouragement they sharehellip so I do greatly appreciate and value the praise and joy of others Here my ego does a lot to support my self-worth and self-esteem

Perhaps nurturing the ego is as much about being grateful for the positives it brings as keeping the negatives in check For example there are times when a peaceful impasse is better than all - out war There is nothing wrong with agreeing to differ with others Part of you may be screaming lsquobut yoursquore wrongrsquo but because you cannot control what other people think you just need to manage your feelings better and know its okay to do so This might mean considering different opinions you may even learn something new And it is far more productive that jumping on your high-horse or belittling others to prove a point

But perhaps the most holistic approach to this ques-tion of dealing with our egos comes with the real-isation that there is no separation at all It is all about perspective As whispered through the ages by so many of our ancient ancestors who believed in we are lsquoonersquo no separation of the lsquoId Ego and Super Egorsquo as Sigmund Freud subscribed

We are multi-faceted highly emotional beings often with a great need to rationalise departmentalise or segregate all and everything around us being able to pigeon hole things and lay blame for our ills ap-pears to be an intrinsic part of how we cope with the adversities of life and even our own short-com-ings And when we struggle to take responsibility for our thoughts words behaviours and actions it really seems to help to push it on something else even when it is within us pretend it was not our faulthellip But we will all fall down at some point we will all succumb to feelings and thoughts that bear little light on the truth and it is exactly at that point we must embrace the darkness Only then can it begin to heal and provide the setting against which our lights of inspiration empathy compassion and forgiveness can be seen

our ego is part of what makes us human

The part of you that helps to push through against the odds that lifts your chin and allows you to face the winds of change and stand firm the part of you that smiles at the pleasure you give to others through your talents or just your presence the part of you that helps you to thrive in life to finally succeed after many failed attemptshellip that part of you is not lsquobadrsquo and it is not something tagged on to your very being as a cruel joke or afterthought The parts of you that make up your ego should you still wish to see them as such are like your inner lsquoEdenrsquo - a garden that when the soil is aptly prepared the seeds are well sown the plants are watered and the weeds are kept at bay will offer a bountiful harvest in life year after year Leave it to dry out or be overrun then it will inevitably seek water and nour-ishment elsewhere and leave you nothing in return As with all things lsquointernalrsquo the choice is yours tend to your garden well

For more thought-provoking material by Kate Osborne visit wwwsolarusltdcom

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 29: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 31

I Love My Ego

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 30: More to Life Edition30

32 More to Life

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 31: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 33

How does Enlightenment Feel

If you wish to get additional information about Dr Itai Ivtzanrsquos work or contact him please visit wwwAwarenessIsFreedomcom See advert on page 13

At certain moments you experience transcendence and catch a glimpse of life as it is These moments occur when for some reason there is a break in the ongoing activity of your mind When this activity stops for a brief moment you experience something completely different This could occur under various circumstances Deep meditation extreme shock an orgasm the influence of a drug or an amazingly beautiful natural phe-nomenon All these moments have one thing in com-mon They bring your mindrsquos activity to a halt they press the pause button for a while

What do you feel when this happens Imagine that underneath the never-ending commentary of the mind underneath all the layers of the Ego Formed Self runs an undercurrent This undercurrent is filled with feelings of unconditional love peace compas-sion and joy And this undercurrent is constantly calling you with every breath you take It is vibrat-ing inside you because it is who you really are It is an inner call to return home to the point where you started and where you will end Your Ego Formed Self and its ego concepts form a thick layer that makes it very difficult for you to experience that undercurrent under regular circumstances To break through the thick layer of the mind and dip in these waters you actually need those rare moments

Have you ever found yourself filled with love or joy or peace that was so immense you almost could not contain it That was a moment of connection to the source to the undercurrent to your Authentic Self a moment of enlightenment And the beauty of it is that it may happen suddenly and unexpectedly

You could be standing on the top of a moun-tain watching the horizon or standing on the beach watching the waves and suddenly something clicks you stop thinking and come in touch with your Au-thentic Self

You become one with this amazing deep accep-tance and joy knowing deep within that everything is perfectly fine has always been and will always be A few heartbeats later the mental noise that gave in for a moment regains control over your awareness and tears your awareness away from the connection to the undercurrent

Enlightenment is impermanent

One of the myths around enlightenment is that it is a durable experience that never changes In reality our awareness fluctuates it is as impermanent as anything else

Note that the experience of enlightenment as a way of being does not change it is always there waiting for your awareness As you practice meditation and keep growing your awareness will extend and grow more consistent yet it will continue to fluctuate This means that your connection with the enlightened space the Authentic Self will also be subject to change gtgt

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 32: More to Life Edition30

34 More to Life

gtgtDuring my years of travelling and spiritual prac-tice I have met many individuals who have expe-rienced enlightenment to varying extents Some of the spiritual teachers I have met could even main-tain that connection for long periods of time And yet I have never met individuals who experienced a steady never-ending enlightened state where anal-ysis by the mind never interferes at any point

We are human it is no coincidence that we are born into the challenges of a body and a mind Had we been meant to be pure spirits or entities of energy we would have surely been embodied differently and not be continuously challenged by our m ind and body

We all contend with difficulties implanted within us an-ger frustration jealousy pain sometimes even joy brings discomfort Spirituality does not resolve these difficulties

Frequently the spiritual journey will take you even deeper into these feelings of discomfort This is the meaning of being human On your path towards enlightenment you will have to engage with such experiences These challenges which some might see as limitations are the reason we are here Our lives revolve around learning to live with accept and relate to all that we are including what we perceive as our personal limitations

We are not here to be perfect (whatever that means for you) we are here to deal with what we define as our imperfections and briefly touch the enlightened undercurrent as we transform This transformation cannot be labelled When we try to label it we fall into the trap of expectations and ego concepts If you make enlightenment your benchmark frustration will be your constant companion Let go of seeking that enlightenment and you will feel great relief and freedom It is the celebration of your liberation from ego concepts and expectations I frequently observe spiritual seekers get deeply frustrated because they are not enlightened after many years of hard work They are unable to recognise how entrapped they are in their own needs and concepts

Imagine the enlightened space as a road sign that indicates you have come in touch with your Authen-tic Self and have been blessed with a glimpse of the experience of it It does not matter if you recon-nect to it next in a moment or in another lifetime All you can do is continue your spiritual work here and now And the freer this work is of expectations for enlightenment the simpler you will find it to transform and grow

Dear Human Yoursquove got it all wrong You didnrsquot come here to master unconditional love That is where you came from and where yoursquoll return You came here to learn personal love Universal love Messy love Sweaty love Crazy love Broken love Whole love Infused with divinity Lived through the grace of stumbling Demon-strated through the beauty ofhellip messing up Often You didnrsquot come here to be perfect You already are You came here to be gorgeously human Flawed and fabulous And then to rise again into remembering But unconditional love Stop telling that story Love in truth doesnrsquot need ANY other adjectives It doesnrsquot require modifiers It doesnrsquot require the condition of perfection It only asks that you show up And do your best That you stay present and feel fully That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU Itrsquos enough Itrsquos Plenty

Courtney A Walsh36

we are not here to be perfect

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 33: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 35$amp()+)-

$amp012($$amp$()+(--($-0-1$23425$647224

$amp$()+-+amp$-0$1amp21$10

8$9lt)$)lt)amp=))$(-gt

$ltAlt(B$(($C$lt-B$-$ltA

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 34: More to Life Edition30

36 More to Life

Open to Inner Peace This is the second in a series of four articles exploring mediation In the first we looked at why people meditate dismissed a few myths and established some principles that meditations follow We will now start to explore some specific ap-proaches to meditation

The purpose of meditation is to still onersquos mind and ultimately see ourselves in our true nature ndash not separate but part of a larger universal self It can help us to live honestly true to ourselves and accepting others amp situations that come our way Following this path we have greater chance to live free from fear andanxiety and in harmony with ourselves and the world On the way it will help us relax deal with stress improve concentration become more focused amp efficient improve personal relationships and benefit our general spiritual mental and physical health There are many types of meditation we will explore just two common ones here

Breath Watching Meditation

Preparation

- Settle into a comfortable well supported warm relaxed sitting position (on a straight backed chair or the floor) with your back and neck straight

- Gently close your eyes if it feels comfortable and will help to avoid distraction otherwise let you gaze rest on the floor a few feet in front of you unfocused- Focus on the sensation of breathing- Calmly bring your attention to your breath and the whole process of breathing- Feel the cool air enter your nose and pass down into your lungs- Feel you belly rise or expand gently as you breathe in and fall or contract as you breathe out- Feel your ribs expand and contract sideways as your lungs fill and empty- If you are breathing deeply you will also feel your shoulders lifting and lowering- Notice that on the out breath the air is warmer and moister- Focus on each individual breath for its entire duration lsquobeing withrsquo your breath- There is no need to alter the way you breathe or seek to control it There is no right or wrong way or any particular state to be achieved You just need to let your experience be your experience and observe it without judgement

What if my mind wanders

Inevitably at some point you mind will wander away from your breath to other thoughts about your day worries plans etc- Congratulate yourself on noticing that this has happened and gently re-focus your attention back to your breathing- Donrsquot judge your mind wandering just recognise it as part of your experience It is not a mistake or failure it is just what minds do- In meditation we are developing our ability to be aware so noticing our mind has wandered is just as valuable as being able to retain our awareness on our breath

Mantra Meditation

With this meditation the focus is on the repeated chanting of a mantra which is a sound word or phrase that is believed to have spiritual or psychological power The root meaning of lsquomantrarsquo is ldquothat which protects the mindrdquo

This works on three levels- It gives focus- The meaning of the mantra so select an appropriate one you should focus your intention on the meaning whilst chanting it- The effect of the vibrations from the sounds of the syllables Many Sanskrit mantras are said to have spiritual cleansing propertiesgtgt

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 35: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 37

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 36: More to Life Edition30

38 More to Life

gtgtPreparationAs for breath watching indeed a few rounds of breath watching is a good way to calm the mind in preparation

Chant your mantra

- There are many mantras or short texts that could be used for example words like peace relax calm or a short prayer or a Sanskrit mantra like- The Gayatri Mantra Many believe that this beautiful mantra will help bring you from darkness to light- Om Mani Padme Hum With the indivisible union of altruistic intention and wisdom we can achieve purity of body speech and mind- Sat Nam (I come from truth) Aham Prema (I am divine love)- Aum ndash the original sound of the universe- You can chant them out loud or silentlyeither as a group or solitary activity- It is traditional to chant mantras 108 times and use a string of mala beads to assist the count 108 is a sacred number with many roots in multiple cultures

Time to Meditate

The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning It can be part of a formal practice or part of normal daily life We can do it during a lunch break whilst gardening cooking dinner cleaning the house or car etc

After work is good as a natural boundary between work and home also at any time we feel stressed to help settle the mind

Avoid meditating too close to bedtime so it doesnrsquot get confused with relaxation and sleepGood luck with your practice

Heather George a Yoga Alliance registered Senior Yoga Teacher and Pilates teacher specialises in Yoga for health including remedial She provides classes for Spas schools private and corporate clients

Tony Davis is a meditation teacher and long distance walker He has a particular interest in the benefits of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and com-bining meditation with walking

Together they run workshops and retreats Go to wwwomtropycom or ring 01784 492500 See advert on page 17

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 37: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 39

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 38: More to Life Edition30

Sarah-Jane Grace weaves together a special fusion of inspirational esoteric soul-focused and intuitive astrology She works from the heart and

speaks from the soul and opens up to the essence of the cosmos for inspiration and guidance Her aim is to inspire empower and enlighten and

she works with clients from across the globe on a regular basis As well as her natural gifts she has studied many healing

techniques spiritual philosophies and teachings over the years

wwwsarahjanegracecom

Horoscopes

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 39: More to Life Edition30

Winter 2012 | wwwmoretolifemagcouk 41

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 20

May 21 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - August 23

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo August 24 - September 22

The theme of being yourself continues to filter into every aspect of your life as you contemplate your path ahead You have spent a long time trying to live the life you thought you ought to live one that kept all the apples nicely lined up in the apple cart of your world but it seems that the balance between polishing those apples and upending the cart has simply grown too strong for a free-spirited soul like you You take responsibility seriously but you also know that being yourself has to take centre stage as this is the source of the fire that stokes up your soul and passion for life Whilst upending the cart may be at the far extreme of possibilities you seem ready now to think beyond apples in order to live the life you intuitively know you were born to live

Being busy is a trait that seems deeply engraved in your DNA you would feel a little lost without all of those distractions and things to do Of course therersquos nothing wrong in being busy as you get things done and make things happen but there seems to be a distinct lack of quiet and space in your life and those times of silent contemplation where you have nothing to do but breathe Breathing is often under-rated itrsquos something thatrsquos taken for granted as our bodies are on the whole perfectly engineered to allow us to breathe without consciously having to do much about it However breathing deeply fully inhaling and exhaling is life-affirming and it has the power to re-connect you to the bigger picture of your life and the space beyond your now infamous lsquoto dorsquo list The silence isnrsquot an empty space to fill with distractions but a gift to relish and savour

There is a saying that maintains the idea of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo is a key philosophy in life A lsquobit of this a little of thatrsquo is fine and all a part of the wonderful spectrum of life As a thinker itrsquos often hard for you to accept what you are told as fact as you like to find out for yourself in order to gain a clearer sense and understanding so you can apply it to your own life This is no surprise after all thinking is what you do However perhaps the concept of lsquoeverything in moderationrsquo could equally be applied to your thinking There is a sense that you have been spending a lot of your time pondering how to live your life and your focus has been consumed with the workings of your mind trying to work life out rather than just getting on with the business of simply living Maybe less is more Let go and live a little

Compassion looks set to be your mantra over the weeks and months ahead compassion for others compassion for the world and perhaps most importantly compassion for yourself Itrsquos so easy to forget about the latter after all as human beings we seem to be programmed with a self-flagellating and harsh inner dialogue Itrsquos easy to criticise and judge not feeling good enough or successful enough Yet does such criticism help Does it inspire you to live breathe and be you Criticism contracts the soul compassion expands it Compassion isnrsquot mumbo-jumbo or thinking positively itrsquos a willingness to love yourself with kindness and gentleness exactly as you are This isnrsquot giving in or giving up itrsquos choosing to live consciously in the present moment and as a result living life fully vibrantly and passionately Genuine self-compassion creates ripples that shift your vibration connecting you with wholeness and with a truer sense of being alive

Going with the flow of life is a concept that is close to your heart you thrive on being the free-spirited creative soul with the free-dom to ebb and flow with the currents and to dance freely in the winds of life There is no doubt that you feel this passion within but when you look at your reality it can be hard to equate the two as the toe-tapping free-spirited soul seems too preoccupied with so many things to do be and achieve There is a sense that you are ready for a little more than toe-tapping now you want the space to dance twirl laugh and spin to your heartrsquos content It may seem hard to see a clear path ahead as your head pulls in a different direction to your heart but remember these are both a part of you so use your intuition creativity and passion to find a new way of living and being that lets you be you

There has been a big question hovering around the periphery of your life for quite some time now whilst you havenrsquot deliberately avoided the question you have done a fine job of avoiding the question lsquoWhat makes you truly happyrsquo Avoiding this question is understandable after all you may discover that nothing in your life currently makes you happy and this could prove to be unbear-ably sad challenging and disappointing Yet surely if you donrsquot ask the question you might never find out that your life actually makes you joyful inspired and empowered instead Ticking along keeping on keeping on works for a while but then one day it doesnrsquot anymore and you can end up being challenged head-on by the very question you have been managing to avoid What happens next is up to you but you seem ready now to connect to your inner truth and trust the light within you to lead the way

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 40: More to Life Edition30

42 More to Life

September 23 - October 22

October 23 - November 22

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

February 20 - March 20

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Check out your horoscope update at wwwmoretolifemagcoukhoroscopes

As you continue to step back to see the bigger picture of your life there is a sense that you are beginning to realise just how out of kilter your life has become over recent months You have spent a long time trying to understand why things are the way they are and this has focused your attention towards the things that are lsquowrongrsquo in your life Understandable of course as its human nature to want to try to fix mend and make things better Yet there are some things in life which just are the way they are because that is the way they are over-thinking such things can take you away from all thatrsquos good and distract you from simply getting on with living your life The more you open up to the bigger picture the more you will realise that acceptance is not giving up it is a powerful gateway towards living your life consciously and wholeheartedly in each and every moment

Today is a new day Tomorrow is a new day Each day brings you a fresh opportunity to start afresh Yet itrsquos easy to get caught up in memories of the past or dreams of the future as these give your life context and structure but when your focus is solely on whatrsquos behind you and what might be ahead of you there is a chance that you might lose sight of where you are now It can be tempting to postpone living fully in this moment as tomorrow might feel like a better time to be the lsquoyoursquo that you know yourself to be yet you also intuitively know that every day is a new day and in each moment of each day you have an opportunity to be fully conscious and awake Try to embrace each day with an open heart and an open mind and be the you that you were born to be

Hope Faith Belief Optimism Take your pick as to which ones you adopt as part of your toolkit over the weeks and months ahead You are a vibrant soul and you are full-to-bursting with inspirational ideas as to how yoursquod love to live your life Your vision is a powerful one as you can clearly see yourself living the life you were born to live this vision feels so real you can almost touch it Yet this vision is still a vision Despite your desires and enthusiasm there seems to be a bridge-less valley between where you are now and where you want to be to reach your destination seems too challenging and impractical unrealistic and risky Hello Remember who you are If therersquos no bridge build one If not take a hike and enjoy the ramble You are Sagittarian head-strong visionary and extraordinarily determined when you want to be Donrsquot lose sight of all that you are and donrsquot forget to be you

There is a brief moment in-between your in-breath and out-breath when you are doing neither one nor the other This moment is a tiny piece of pause in the otherwise busy world of being you Of course you rarely notice this moment as life is just too busy and your focus is on the business of living getting things done and keeping on keeping on Itrsquos not that you ignore these little pauses but they have just slipped into the background noise of everyday life along with all the other little moments of specialness around and within you Sometimes life feels heavy arduous and frustrating and sometimes you wonder what on earth itrsquos all about Yet take a deep breath and allow the rise and fall of your lungs to re-focus you on the little bits of stillness and everything begins to take on a different hue You may not be able to change your life but you can change how you live it

As you continue to embrace the concept of living the best life possible there is a sense that you are beginning to lift up your gaze towards what this truly means for you Although you have long had a sense of your destination in life itrsquos often not until you are actually making the journey that you get the opportunity to reassess and review your choices Having a vision is one thing living it is quite another As a result there is a chance that you are beginning to wonder if you are still walking the right path as you are simply not the same you that you were when your vision first came into being This is only natural but it is likely to create an air of frustration and confusion within you as you may question your entire sense of self in the process Be open to evolution and know that the more you know yourself the closer you are to living the best life possible

There are times when being you can feel overwhelming and confusing and there are times when everything seems to fall into per-fect alignment This can all happen in the blink of an eye (and usually does) and you often find yourself oscillating between clarity and confusion at any given moment in your life Living in the middle of such rambunctiousness is not for the faint-hearted but you take it in your stride as itrsquos your lsquonormalrsquo you donrsquot question it because life has always been this way You have grown to love your topsy-turvy way of being and when you are at peace with being you you are vibrant contented and truly happy as your creative inspirational nature flows free Yet you often fight the currents and oscillation feeling that there must be a better lsquonormalrsquo to strive for There might be but itrsquos not your normal Celebrate all that you are love your rambunctious twisty-turny nature and be happy you deserve it

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 41: More to Life Edition30

UsuiHoly Fire Reiki Master Teacher Chalice Well Gardens Glastonbury

20 - 23 February 2015

Receive the Holy fire Ignition Learn Advanced Reiki Techniques

Experience deep healing Strengthen your connection to the Source of Reiki

A retreat by the healing waters of the Chalice Well at the foot of the Tor the heart chakra of the world Explore your spiritual path learn and become a registered ICRT Master of UsuiHoly Fire Reiki with Roberta Kipling MA

Cost pound860 all inclusive

robertakiplinggmailcom

wwwhealinglightorguk

Page 42: More to Life Edition30