Ho’oponopono

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Administrator

I am sorry * Please forgive me * I love you * Thank you

On Wikipedia, there is a fantastic summary of this ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness:
Ho’oponopono
Credit to my friend Suzy who brought the related ‘Zerolimits’ book to my attention. Authors Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len manage to make forgiveness and cleansing of our darkest secrets and regrets seem a simple daily process.
The theories’ principles offer ways to cure unresolved emotions.

Unless you are not human, the chances that you do not say or do something that you wished you hadn’t are quite slim. It just so happens that even if the whole world forgives us, we will not start feeling better unless we forgive ourselves first.

Ho’oponopono is based on the fact that taking responsibility of our ‘less noble’ actions while forgiving ourselves and others, automatically takes the intensity and hurt out of one’s body and spirit.

As all good habits, the more you practice it and put your heart into it, the more effective the results. At the same time, we can apply it to everyone around us.

Read the book, try the practices and see for yourself! If happy with the results, why not make it a family routine where even the younger members can feel ‘lighter’ every day?

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Clearing our Relationship with money by Patricia Cota-Robles

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Administrator

A magnificently beautiful written work explaining why so many of hardworking people are still struggling with money. Next to reading this article, it is important to re-read it again and again and seriously practice the simple techniques ir suggests when thinking and talking about our money. Patricia Robles’ website is http://eraofpeace.org Enjoy! 

CLEARING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY
by Patricia Diane Cota-Robles

In the beginning, our Father-Mother God gave us everything we needed to easily sustain our physical bodies during our Earthly sojourn. We were given the radiance of the Sun, fresh air, water, food and materials from which to build shelters and make clothing for ourselves. The Divine Intent was for our physical needs to be taken care of so that we could focus on using our gift of free will and our creative faculties of thought and feeling to learn to cocreate the patterns of perfection from the Causal Body of God in the physical plane.

It was never the Divine Plan that we struggle from morning until night in mundane jobs just to put food on the table and supply the needs of our physical bodies. That, in fact, is a gross distortion of the original Divine Plan for this planet, and it is a cumbersome distraction from our purpose and reason for being in this school of learning.

After the “fall,” we lost awareness of our Divine Heritage and the fact that we are Children of God. As we descended into denser and denser frequencies of our own human miscreations, we were unable to hear the guidance of our I AM Presence, which we now refer to as “the still small voice within.” To compensate for that void in our lives, we developed our fragmented, fear-based human egos. We gave our power away to this mutated aspect of ourselves and allowed it to manipulate us into believing that we are just our physical bodies and that the physical plane is all that exists.

With that distorted perception, we started believing in lack and limitation. We forgot that we are cocreating this reality and that the unformed primal Light that comprises every particle of Life in the physical plane is limitless. We forgot about the infinite abundance of God, and we started fearing for our very survival. We became afraid that there was not going to be enough of the necessities of life in order for everyone to live in comfort and peace.

We began hoarding the things we needed to sustain our physical bodies which, in turn, blocked the flow of God’s infinite abundance. We are cocreators with our Father-Mother God, so when our fear-based thoughts and feelings reflected on the elemental substance of the Earth, we started experiencing inclement weather conditions which resulted in floods, droughts, famines, plagues and pestilence. When that happened, we were catapulted into a vicious circle. The more we hoarded the things we needed to survive, the less the necessities of life were made available to us and the more afraid we became.

We developed a consciousness of greed and selfishness, which we believed was necessary in order to survive. We started fighting with each other over land, food, water and material things. Eventually we created a monetary system to barter for the very things God had freely given to each of us. As the confusion and chaos built in momentum, our human egos coerced us into believing that whatever we needed to do to survive was appropriate, even if it meant lying, stealing, cheating or killing.

As we witness the meltdown of the global economy, we can clearly see the evidence of this tragic situation everywhere we look. Practically every malady manifesting on Earth can be traced back to the fear-based consciousness of lack and limitation. That is true whether we are talking about the corruption, violence and moral depravity in governments, the military, financial institutions, corporations, the medical, insurance and pharmaceutical industries, religious organizations, educational institutions, some profit and nonprofit organizations or the private sector and individuals.

Our ego-based fear for survival infuses Humanity with a willingness to do whatever it takes to get what we want. For aeons of time, people have continually acted out of the distorted perception of lack and limitation. As a result of that illusion, people everywhere are writhing in the pain and suffering our human egos perpetuated by entrapping us in poverty consciousness.

It is time for us to take back the power our human egos have usurped from us, and it is time for us to give our I AM Presence full dominion of our lives. We have the ability to reclaim our Divine Heritage and to restore the limitless flow of God’s abundance. Never has it been more important for us to do so.

As the Light of God increases on Earth and the negativity that conflicts with that Light is pushed to the surface to be transmuted and healed, we are seeing the global economy reel on the shifting sands of corruption and greed. From outer appearances, it looks like the economy is headed for total collapse, but, in fact, this is the darkness before the dawn.

The purging that is taking place in the economic world is a necessary part of the healing process. The old-age archetypes of greed, selfishness, corruption and moral depravity are being exposed and shattered in order to clear the way for the new archetypes of God’s Infinite Abundance and Eternal Peace. Those who are willing to attain their wealth by harming another part of Life are doomed to failure. Whether they are hurting people or polluting the Earth, their nefarious efforts are being exposed in the radiant Light of Divine Truth.

The dog-eat-dog, looking-out-for-number-one selfishness that has been so prevalent over the years cannot be sustained now that the new archetypes are in place. This is the time that has been prophesied when “All that is hidden must now be revealed.” The clandestine schemes of deception and dishonesty that have trapped the multitudes in a web of poverty and fear will not be concealed in a cloak of darkness any longer. The elite few who hoard the wealth of the world while millions live in hunger, disease and squalor will no longer succeed in their self-obsessed ventures.

Poverty is a human miscreation, and it was never intended to be part of our Divine Plan. The distorted patterns of lack and limitation are an illusion that we created and that we are sustaining through our thoughts, words, feelings, actions and beliefs.

The new archetypes of God’s Infinite Abundance and Eternal Peace are based on the Divine Truth that GOD IS OUR SUPPLY, not outer world circumstances. Our natural heritage is the continual God supply of all good things. When we remember this Truth, we open our hearts up once again to the limitless flow of God’s abundance.

This unique moment will be recorded in the Golden Book of Life as the time in which the Era of Eternal Peace and Infinite Abundance was permanently established on Earth. Just imagine, you and I are physically present to cocreate the events that will lift this planet and all her Life into the Light of Eternal Peace and God’s Infinite Abundance.

RECLAIMING GOD’S ABUNDANCE

In order for us to reclaim our natural Birthright of God’s Infinite Abundance, we need to clear our relationship with money. Since we have chosen to live in a system that uses money as our source of exchange, we need to eliminate our fear of it and realize that money is just a source of energy—period. It is not some awesome entity that comes into our lives to wield its power over us and rule our destinies. It is only because of our fear for survival that we have allowed money to have that kind of control over us.

First of all, we must eliminate poverty consciousness and start functioning with prosperity consciousness. Instead of worrying all of the time about not having enough money, we need to focus on our gratitude for the money we do have. Gratitude is a magnet that brings more of what we are grateful for into our lives.

Every time we spend a penny of our money, whether it is to buy groceries, pay our bills, for entertainment or whatever, we should bless it with gratitude for the service it is providing to us. Then we should let it go freely, knowing that money is just a source of energy and, like ALL energy, it will go out, expand and return to us for more service.

If we send our money forth grudgingly, bemoaning the high cost of living, fearing we won’t have enough to cover our expenses, hating to spend it on the necessities of life, we will automatically block the flow of God’s abundance.

The process of developing prosperity consciousness does not mean going out and charging unnecessary things and getting ourselves deeper in debt by spending money we don’t have. It does mean, however, that we recognize money is providing a service to us that we should accept with gratitude and appreciation.

As we move forward at warp speed, it is crucial for us to remember that we are responsible for cocreating our own prosperity. We must perpetually ask ourselves, “Is what I AM thinking, saying, feeling or doing adding to my prosperity and prosperity consciousness, or am I blocking my prosperity with fear and poverty consciousness?”

If what we are expressing is reflecting poverty consciousness, then we must ask ourselves, “What do we need to change in order to express prosperity consciousness and open up to God’s flow of abundance right now?” It is imperative that we hold tenaciously to our positive visions and energize them daily with our affirmations and the focus of our attention. We must be deliberate about our wealth. Through persistence, confidence and acceptance we will open our hearts to the God supply of all good things.

A VITAL FACTOR IN RECEIVING GOD’S ABUNDANCE

The Law of the Circle plays a very important role in our prosperity. The ebb and flow of Life, which is so clearly demonstrated in the Law of the Circle, is a critical factor in order for us to receive God’s flow of limitless abundance. There are many expressions that describe the ebb and flow of our Lifeforce: inbreath and outbreath, radiation and magnetization, giving and receiving, cause and effect, action and reaction, involution and evolution. In order for the Divine Plan to be fulfilled and for us to receive a continual flow of God’s Infinite Abundance, the ebb and flow of our gift of Life must be balanced. If we are receiving more Lifeforce than we are sending out or vice versa, an imbalance is created that blocks the flow.

When we volunteered to embody on Earth to learn how to become cocreators with our Father-Mother God, we agreed that we would cooperate with the Universal Law of the Circle and maintain the balance of our Lifeforce. Our God Parents agreed to provide what we would need to sustain our physical bodies, such as Sunlight, water, fresh air, material for food and shelter and the electronic Light substance that beats our hearts and enables us to live, move, breathe, think and have our Being in the physical plane.

In return, we agreed that we would balance our gift of Life by using our Lifeforce and our creative faculties of thought and feeling to expand the borders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. We agreed that we would use our gift of free will to observe the patterns of perfection in the Causal Body of God and then combine those patterns in our own unique ways to create new, previously unknown expressions of Divinity in the world of form. We agreed to send forth our gift of Life in ways that would add to the Light of the world. This is easily done through our expressions of love, reverence for all Life, gratitude, wisdom, abundance, peace, joy and happiness, which bless all Life on Earth.

When we fell into the abyss of our own human miscreations, we forgot about the agreements we made with God. Even though we were still receiving and using all of the gifts of Life our Father-Mother God were providing for us, we were not giving anything back in return. We were not fulfilling our part of the agreement by balancing the gifts of Life we were utilizing by adding to the Light of the world. That self-centered behavior effectively blocked the flow of God’s abundance.

Once our supply was blocked, we fell into the dysfunctional pattern of struggling every day just to make enough money to pay for the things we needed to sustain our physical bodies. Those were the same things that God had already given to us for free. When we expend our time, energy and money to pay for what God has already provided for us, it is like not giving anything back at all to balance our gift of Life. That imbalance trapped us in a mode of stagnation. As a result, we were cast into the paralyzing throes of poverty which only perpetuated our consciousness of lack and limitation.

That perplexing condition is the cause of the poverty we have experienced over many lifetimes, and it is the reason for the financial situations that are affecting the global economy now. The good news is that we created this problem, and we have the power to do something about it. We have the ability to renew our contracts with God and to reclaim our prosperity.

All we have to do to renew our contract with God is to begin doing what we agreed to do in the first place. That means that we need to balance the gift of Life we receive and benefit from every day by giving something back in return and expanding the borders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. That may sound complicated, but it is actually very simple. Anything we do to improve the quality of Life on Earth expands the borders of Divinity and adds to the Light of the world. Whatever we do to bless all Life by sharing our love, reverence, adoration, gratitude, wisdom, abundance, peace, joy and happiness further enhances the creation of Heaven on Earth.

There are as many ways to open up to the flow of God’s abundance as there are people on the planet devising ways to balance their gift of Life by sharing their love and appreciation. If we specifically want to increase the abundance of money in our lives, however, there is a very specific process we must follow.

INCREASING OUR CASH FLOW

At the present time we use money as our means of exchange, so in order for us to attain prosperity and to become financially free, we need to increase our flow of money. We can easily do that by applying the Universal Law of the Circle. Remember, like attracts like. What we send out in the form of energy expands and returns to us. Money is energy. In order for us to attract more money into our lives, we need to send out money.

Needless to say, we are all sending out tons of money to pay for our bodily needs. The problem is, God already provided those needs to us for free, so that money doesn’t count as our balancing gift of appreciation for our Lifeforce. In order to increase our cash flow, we must give money back to God, in appreciation for our gift of Life, to support things over and above what we spend to sustain our physical bodies.

The spiritual key to increasing our cash flow is for us to give a portion of our money away to people who will use it to assist in cocreating Heaven on Earth. There are myriad ways we can accomplish this. We can give money to people, institutions, organizations, charities, spiritual groups, religious groups, corporations, human- or animal-rights groups, environmental groups, human endeavors associated with science, medicine, research, alternative fuels and energy sources, the arts, education, sustainable development, global peace, justice or to any other person, place, condition or thing that we know is working with reverence for ALL Life and a genuine desire to cocreate the wonders of Heaven on Earth.

The general consensus is that if we give as little as ten percent of our income back to God in appreciation for our gift of Life, we will open up to such an influx of money that we won’t be able to handle it all.

The attitude and consciousness with which we give our money away is critical to our success. Our money must be freely given away with no strings attached. We cannot expect anything in return from the people or places we give it to other than for them to use the money for the highest good of all concerned and to improve the quality of Life on the planet.

Once we give our money away, it is important for us to acknowledge and accept that, in compliance with the Universal Law of the Circle, the money will expand and return to us through the God supply of all good things.

The reason we need to consciously affirm the return of our money is because we have forgotten that money is a form of energy which should have been going out and returning to us all along. We have just been blocking that natural process with our poverty consciousness.

Through the distorted perception of our human egos we have developed the expectation that money goes out but that it never comes back. By affirming our Divine Birthright and decreeing to accept God’s limitless flow of abundance, we reprogram ourselves to expect prosperity. We can start by claiming a tenfold return of our gift, but in Truth, there is no limit to the return we can expect. When we state the following decree with deep feeling, we affirm our gift of love and appreciation and claim God’s flow of abundance on the return current.

PROSPERITY DECREE

I AM giving __($100.00)__ back to God in love and appreciation for my gift of Life.

I AM gratefully receiving __($1000.00)__ from God’s infinite flow of abundance on the return current with the highest good of all concerned.

Once we give our love and appreciation for our Life back to God in the energy of money and claim God’s tenfold return flow of abundance, it is important for us to consciously expect to receive an increase of money. We must not limit God by trying to figure out where the money will come from; we just need to be open and receptive to every single avenue of return.

Every time we receive unexpected money or someone buys something for us or pays for something that we thought we were going to have to pay for ourselves, we should accept that is God’s abundance flowing back into our lives. If things we need are on sale or if our bills are less than we thought they were going to be, that is our gift of money coming back to us. If someone gives us an item that we thought we were going to have to purchase or we get a raise or a higher paying job, we are receiving God’s abundance. If someone finally pays an old debt that we thought was lost forever or we receive a bigger refund than we were expecting on our income tax return, we should acknowledge the money is part of our returning abundance.

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New ‘Survivors Corner’ in Life Spheres website

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Administrator

Inspired by people overcoming obstacles and moving on, let me introduce you to the new ‘Survivors Corner’ at the Life Spheres website. Survivors’ stories inspire & remind us all our unlimited resources: would you like to share yours and make a difference to other people’s lives?

Life has different life scripts for each and one of us. In the script, there are a few hurdles with different names; some are related to sickness and accidents, some to our mental and emotional world, some with separation, some with loss and some with poverty or violence.

In ‘Survivors Corner’, we celebrate small & big wins over these hurdles and model people’s tools and mentality to get through tough periods and regain the joys of life.

Still alive and kicking after some bumpy roads? Send your story in English or Greek language to es@life-spheres.com.  (Please keep under 600 words)

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Τιρκουάζ καρό πιτζάμες – Αλίκη Αρούχ

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Administrator

Νιώθω ιδιαίτερα περήφανη που μοιράζομαι μια απο τις πιο ρομαντικές ιστορίες της χρονιάς η οποία με συγκίνησε βαθύτατα. Η Αλίκη Αρούχ γράφει απο τότε που μπορεί να θυμάται και με το ’Τιρκουάζ καρό πιτζάμες’ κέρδισε φέτος το πρώτο της βραβείο; ελπίζω για όλους μας να ακολουθήσουν πολλές περισσότερες ιστορίες! Σας αφήνω με την φωνή της Αλίκης…

Αλίκη Αρούχ

Τιρκουάζ καρό πιτζάμες

Επίμονα σου ζητώ μια συνάντηση. Προφανώς, ο λόγος είναι σημαντικός. Προτιμώ να σου μιλήσω από κοντά, ιδιαιτέρως. Ελπίζω πως θα καταφέρεις να βρεις έναν τρόπο να μου παραχωρήσεις λίγο από τον τόσο πολύτιμο χρόνο σου το συντομότερο δυνατόν.
Σ’ ευχαριστώ.

* * *

Γεννήθηκα στις 15 Ιουνίου του 1969. Λίγο πριν τα σαράντα, μηδένισα. Στις 6 Μαΐου του 2009 γεννήθηκα πάλι. Είμαι δύο χρονών. Τι ξέρεις για τη μέρα που πέθανα;
Μόλις χτες ήταν που γυρίσαμε από την εκδρομή. Νιώθω εξαντλημένη. Λίγο το πένθος, λίγο τα προβλήματα, οι ευθύνες, οι αγωνίες… Δεν έπρεπε ν’ ανέβω στα Μετέωρα και μετά να κάνω πεζοπορία τόσα χιλιόμετρα, αλλά νά, ξέγνοιασα με τους φίλους και τα φαγοπότια κι ελάφρυνα μια στάλα με την παρουσία τόσων αγαπημένων προσώπων. Γέμισαν λίγο οι μπαταρίες μου από την ενέργεια της φύσης και των παιδιών. Μ’ άρεσε που σ’ έβλεπα, ακόμα και χωρίς να μιλάμε. Μ’ άρεσε που κινούμασταν στους ίδιους χώρους. Που ανασαίναμε τον ίδιο αέρα. Κι ας ένιωθα πως με απέφευγες…
Όλα μαζεμένα ήρθαν. Ενός κακού μύρια έπονται, δε λένε; Το λένε. Πρώτα τα χρέη, μετά η κατάθλιψη, μετά το διαζύγιο. Η ανεργία, οι ευθύνες του παιδιού όλες πάνω μου. Ο καρκίνος και οι χημειοθεραπείες της μαμάς, ο ξαφνικός θάνατος του μπαμπά. Πλεγμένο ανάμεσα σ’ όλα, μαζί κι ενδιάμεσα, ένα διακριτικό παιχνιδιάρικο φλερτ, μια μικρή φωτεινή ηλιαχτίδα μέσα στην καθημερινότητά μου. Αθώες τυχαίες συναντήσεις με παιχνιδιάρικη διάθεση. Κι ένας ερωτισμός, ένας ερωτισμός που ξυπνά από βαθύ λήθαργο. Μια αγκαλιά ασφαλής που φτάνω μα δεν έχω. Χέρια που με αγγίζουν, μου βάζουν φωτιά κι αποτραβιούνται. Μάτια που με κοιτάνε με τρυφερότητα και προσήλωση. Λόγια που τα σβήνουν όλα. Ένα βήμα μπρος, δύο πίσω. Γλυκιά προσμονή. Παλίρροια και άμπωτη σε σώμα και μυαλό. Κι ύστερα όλο αυτό το τίποτε, το λίγο, το καθόλου, όλο χαμένο. Ξεγραμμένο με δυο λέξεις. «Κλείσ’ το, σφράγισε το!» Αν το έβλεπες σενάριο σε σαπουνόπερα, θα έλεγες τον σεναριογράφο υπερβολικό τρελό και θ’ άλλαζες κανάλι.
Είπα, «θα το ξεπεράσω», όπως λέμε θα βγω μια βόλτα να πάρω αέρα. Έτσι κι αλλιώς φαίνεται να είναι το μικρότερο από τα προβλήματά μου.
Α, δεν σηκώθηκα καλά σήμερα. Θα κρύωσα στην εκδρομή. Ίσως να με πείραξε κάτι που έφαγα. Ζαλίζομαι και δεν έχω καθόλου δύναμη. Λέω να ξαπλώσω πάλι. Πραγματικά δε νιώθω καλά. Σα να λιποθυμάω, νομίζω. Να φωνάξω τη μαμά, να πάρω ένα γιατρό; Τι γίνεται; Έρχομαι και φεύγω. Παλίρροια και άμπωτη κι εδώ. Και τηλέφωνα. Και κουδούνια. Και φωνές. Κάντε λίγο ησυχία, σας παρακαλώ! Να μην ξυπνήσει το παιδί! Νομίζω πως είμαι εξαντλημένη από το πένθος και την κούραση. Να κοιμηθώ λιγάκι θέλω, αυτό μόνο, αλλά πονάω. Ο πόνος στον αριστερό μου καρπό έχει γίνει αφόρητος και εξαπλώνεται μέχρι την ωμοπλάτη. Κανένας γιατρός δεν έρχεται. Έχουν πολλή δουλειά όλοι. Τουλάχιστον ας πουν απ’ το τηλέφωνο κάτι, γιατί χειροτερεύω. Δυσκολεύομαι ν’ ανασάνω. Δεν ανοίγετε κάνα παράθυρο; Λες να πεθαίνω; Ωραίο αστείο!
Α, νά! Πάνω που έλεγα πως πεθαίνω αβοήθητη στο κέντρο της μεγαλούπολης, αυγή του 21ου αιώνα, ήρθε ένας γιατρός — τι γιατρός δηλαδή, γιατρουδάκι… ειδικευόμενος. Βγάζει τα εργαλεία του, ένα σωρό χαζογκάτζετ. Μέχρι και φορητό καρδιογράφο έχει φέρει — μη χειρότερα! Τι να τον κάνει; Μήπως νομίζει ότι εξετάζει καμιά γιαγιά;
Τον χαζεύω απαθής. Εκείνος, ψύχραιμος εξετάζει, λιγότερο ψύχραιμος δίνει οδηγίες, έκπληκτος ψελλίζει : «Έχω έμφραγμα εν εξελίξει!»
Με ακούω που γελάω. Δεν είναι έμφραγμα, καλέ μου κύριε, απλά ράγισε η καρδιά μου λίγο. Ξεκαρδίζομαι, μα πολλές-πολλές δυνάμεις δεν έχω. Έρχομαι και φεύγω.

* * *

Ο μισός εαυτός μου ξαπλωμένος στο κρεβάτι, ο άλλος αιωρείται στο ταβάνι μέσα σ’ ένα όμορφο γαλάζιο βαμβακένιο συννεφάκι. Γιατί πήγα κι έκατσα στην αριστερή γωνιά του ταβανιού ακριβώς πάνω από το παράθυρο; Η αλήθεια είναι πως βλέπω τέλεια από κει πάνω: τον γιατρό που τρέχει μέσα-έξω στο δωμάτιο, τη μαμά που στέκεται και με κοιτάει πανικόβλητη, το παιδί που αγουροξυπνημένο έχει σαστίσει και ρωτάει τι συνέβη, την αφεντιά μου στο κρεβάτι με τις τιρκουάζ καρό καλοκαιρινές πιτζάμες, χλομή, κάτασπρη, τόσο ήρεμη και γαλήνια! Καθόλου δεν πονάω τώρα. Όλα είναι τόσο ήσυχα, τόσο απαλά, τόσο ειρηνικά. Είναι λίγο ενοχλητικό που έρχομαι και φεύγω. Αυτός ο άλλος μου εαυτός στη γωνιά του ταβανιού αποσπά την προσοχή μου απ’ αυτά που πρέπει να κάνω εδώ. Ευτυχώς, όλοι είναι στις θέσεις τους. Θείοι και φίλοι καταφτάνουν στο σπίτι. Δε θυμάμαι να έχω καμιά εκκρεμότητα για σήμερα. Έτσι κι αλλιώς είμαι άνεργη, το παιδί έχει εδώ τη γιαγιά του. Όλα τα υπόλοιπα είναι μια χαρά. Αχ, και να σ’ είχα εδώ κοντά μου! Μόνο αυτό! Είναι τόσα αυτά που δεν έχω προλάβει να σου πω! Γιατί δεν επέμεινα περισσότερο να σε συναντήσω; Πώς κάθισα με σταυρωμένα τα χέρια και σ’ άκουγα να λες, «Κλείσ’ το. Σφράγισε το»; Είπα θα σε ξεπεράσω. «Σιγά το δύσκολο», είπες κι εσύ, «θα βρεις ένα σωρό καλύτερους από μένα». Σου χαμογέλασα, έκανα μεταβολή κι έφυγα τινάζοντας τα μαλλιά μου χαριτωμένα και ανάλαφρα σα να ήταν το πιο φυσικό πράγμα στον κόσμο.
«Θα σε ξεπεράσω», όπως λέμε θα γίνω καλά, θα βρω δουλειά, θα χάσω κιλά, θα ανακαινίσω το σπίτι, θα γίνω καλύτερη μαμά…
Πολύ θα ’θελα να σε δω άλλη μια φορά. Μετανιώνω που δεν επέμεινα. Πρέπει να προλάβω. Ζητώ απεγνωσμένα να σε βρει κάποιος και γλιστράω. Γλιστράω απαλά πάνω σε μια τσουλήθρα. Είναι δροσερή και πολύ διασκεδαστική. Πηγαίνει απ’ το κρεβάτι στο ταβάνι. Τσουλάω ανεβαίνοντας. Γλιστράω γελώντας! Α, ναι! Τώρα το νιώθω ότι φεύγω πραγματικά. Ο εαυτός μου στο ταβάνι είναι τόσο όμορφος! Είμαι στεφανωμένη με μια θαυμάσια ασημόλευκη αύρα που κάνει τα μαλλιά μου να φαίνονται ακόμα πιο ξανθά! Μοιάζω με άγγελο, αλλά ξέρω πως είμαι εγώ. Ο άγγελος-εαυτός μου απλώνει το χέρι με γλυκιά προσδοκία. Κι εγώ γλιστράω αέρινα προς τα κει σα να χορεύω.
Μια τελευταία ματιά να ρίξω στο σώμα μου, αυτό, το ξαπλωμένο στο κρεβάτι, με τις τιρκουάζ καρό πιτζάμες. Εκεί είναι. Το βλέπω. Τι θα γίνει αν φύγω; Είμαι δεμένη μαζί του μ’ ένα ασημένιο κορδόνι. Ο άγγελος-εαυτός λέει, «Δεν πειράζει, το κόβω εγώ το κορδόνι». Στάσου, δεν έχω αφήσει οδηγίες για καύση, ούτε για δωρεά οργάνων! Τι δωρεά δηλαδή… ποιος να την θέλει μια ραγισμένη καρδιά… «Μη σε νοιάζει», λέει πάλι ο άγγελος-εαυτός, «ξέρουν οι δικοί μας τι θα κάνουν. Δες, έξω στο σαλόνι ένας ραβίνος ήρθε και προσεύχεται. Όλα θα γίνουν καθώς πρέπει. Ξέχνα τις επαναστατικές ιδέες για καύση και δώρα», με μαλώνει. Κάτι τελευταίο πριν φύγω, σε παρακαλώ. Θέλω να προλάβω να του μιλήσω πάλι. Να τον κάνω να καταλάβει. Δεν με πίστευε, ξέρεις! Ο άγγελος-εαυτός γελάει. «Μα ξέρει, καλή μου… Καταλαβαίνει! Το εμπέδωσε τον περασμένο Φλεβάρη με την εξομολόγηση που του έκανες. Θα τον πέθαινες τον άνθρωπο στα καλά καθούμενα! Τι άλλο θες; Πάμε. Φτάνει!» Ουφ, εντάξει, έρχομαι! Δε δικαιούμαι μια τελευταία επιθυμία; Θέλω και να τον αγκαλιάσω. Είμαι τόσο κουρασμένη… Ν’ ακουμπήσω λίγο το κεφάλι μου επάνω του και ν’ ακούσω τον χτύπο της καρδιάς του. «Γιατί, βρε χρυσή μου, δεν τα έκανες όλα αυτά όσο άντεχε η δική σου καρδιά; Τι ν’ ακούσεις από τη δική του; Το πολύ-πολύ να χτυπάει σαν το ringtone του κινητού του. Άσ’ το, να πάει. Ώρα που βρήκες!» Εντάξει, έρχομαι… Μία τελευταία ματιά να ρίξω, μήπως ξέχασα κάτι. Και νά εκεί, δίπλα στο ξαπλωμένο σώμα, τα μάτια. Μόνα τους, πράσινα, βελούδινα. Δυο μάτια μόνα. Μ’ ένα βλέμμα βουβής ικεσίας ανάμεικτης, θαρρείς, με τρυφερότητα.
Το ξέρεις ότι σε ζήτησα; Γαντζώνομαι με μανία κι επιμονή στην εικόνα σου όσο προσπαθώ να πάρω άλλη μιαν ανάσα. Είσαι η σιδερένια μου άγκυρα καθώς νιώθω πως η καρδιά μου σταματά. Πάντα έχανε η καρδιά μου ένα-δυο χτύπους όταν σ’ αντάμωνα. Αφόρητα όμορφος. Απελπιστικά απρόσιτος.
Πεισμώνω. Μαζεύω όλη μου τη δύναμη, συγκεντρώνω όλες μου τις γνώσεις κι εφαρμόζω όλες τις τεχνικές αναπνοής που έχω διδαχτεί — ω, πότε άραγε; Σ’ αυτήν ή σε μιαν άλλη, προηγούμενη ζωή;…

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Παίρνω κουράγιο. Δύσκολα κάθομαι στο καροτσάκι. Δύσκολα ξαπλώνω στο φορείο. Για πότε βρέθηκα έξω από το σπίτι! Με τις πιτζάμες στο δρόμο. Με ξεκουφαίνει η σειρήνα του ασθενοφόρου, με ξυπνάει η φωνή του γιατρού που μιλάει μια με τον οδηγό και μια μ’ εμένα. «Πού πάμε;» ρωτάει ο οδηγός. «Παπανικολάου ή ΑΧΕΠΑ;» Σε ταξί μπήκαμε; σκέφτομαι και γελάω. Ο γιατρός δεν το βρίσκει πολύ αστείο. Διατάζει κοφτά τον οδηγό: «ΑΧΕΠΑ και γρήγορα! Δεν έχω χρόνο!». Βιάζεται να πάει κάπου αλλού αυτός; Αναρωτιέμαι. Ζαλίζομαι και τα βλέπω όλα ανάποδα. Δεν έχω ξανακάνει διαδρομή με αυτοκίνητο ανάποδα και δεν έχω ξαναμπεί σε ασθενοφόρο. Σαν τρελός πάει! Θα μας σκοτώσεις, κύριος! Πάλι ξεκαρδίζομαι στα γέλια και μου κόβεται η ανάσα. Πνίγομαι. Ο αέρας τελείωσε. Αναπνοές. Αναπνοές που καίνε, αναπνοές που δεν έχω.
Θα ορκιζόμουν ότι σε βλέπω και σ’ ακούω. Καρφωμένο το βλέμμα σου στα μάτια μου. Σίγουρο και οικείο. Πρέπει να τα καταφέρεις. Θα τα καταφέρω. Σ’ το υπόσχομαι.

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Ανακτώ ξανά τις αισθήσεις μου. Ακούω: «Την χάνω, δεν έχω χρόνο!» Νιώθω το φορείο να τραντάζεται, να τρέχει. Τρέχουν κι άλλοι μαζί. Πετάω. Αιωρούμαι ακριβώς όπως τότε που άγγιξαν τα χείλη μας σ’ εκείνο το σύντομο, γλυκό φιλί. Θαρρείς κι έχω τη γεύση του νωπή στο στόμα. Μια μνήμη άχρονη, κυτταρική, που ξύπνησε στο άγγιγμα σου. Με κάθε ανάσα η μυρωδιά σου με τυλίγει και γίνεται δική μου! Στο υποσυνείδητο μου κοιμόταν για αιώνες τ’ άρωμα σου. Εσύ δεν μ’ αναγνωρίζεις; Γιατί επαναλαμβάνεις σαν χαλασμένο πικάπ, «Κλείσ’ το, σφράγισε το»; «Θα σε ξεπεράσω», όπως λέμε θ’ αναρρώσω, θα μάθω να χορεύω, θα κόψω το τσιγάρο, θα κόψω τα φάρμακα, θα βγω από το πένθος.

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Στο χειρουργείο είμαι μάλλον. Δυσκολεύομαι να καταλάβω τι γίνεται όταν όλα είναι ανάποδα. Φοράνε πράσινα, έχει πολύ φως. Πονάω. Ειδικά το αριστερό μου χέρι, η ωμοπλάτη μου. Λες κι είμαι κάτω από μια πρέσα. Τα μάτια μου είναι ανοιχτά ή κλειστά; Ακούω πολλές φωνές. Γιατί βιάζονται; Γιατί τρέχουν και φωνάζουν. Τι είπε μόλις τώρα αυτός; «Μπράβο, γιατρέ, σήμερα σώσατε μια ζωή!». Για μένα το λέει; Δεν είμαστε καλά! Εγώ μια χαρά είμαι. Δεν έχω τίποτε, θα συνέλθω. Έι, εσύ στο ταβάνι, δε συμφωνείς; Πες τους! Α, δεν φτάνει που δυσκολεύομαι να σας μιλήσω, μου φέρνετε και μια μάσκα μες στα μούτρα! Δυσκολεύομαι ν’ ανασάνω, λέμε, μη μου φοράτε κι αυτό το πράγμα στη μύτη! Παιδιά, όταν ανοίγω τα μάτια αυτός ο λευκός προβολέας με τυφλώνει! Σε ανάκριση είμαι; Οκέι, ομολογώ ό,τι θέλετε, μόνο να τελειώνουμε! Νά και ο άγγελος-εαυτός. Πού ήσουν, καλέ, τόσην ώρα, έχασες το δρόμο ή μήπως είχε περισσότερη κίνηση στον ουρανό; Βρε μανία να πηγαίνεις να κάθεσαι αριστερά στις γωνίες των ταβανιών! Δεν σε βλέπω καλά εκεί, σε κρύβει ένα πράσινο σκουφάκι και στέκεσαι ακριβώς πίσω από το λευκό προβολέα. Μήπως ξέρεις γιατί είναι τόσο αλαφιασμένοι όλοι αυτοί; Η τιρκουάζ καρό μου πιτζάμα είναι στο πάτωμα. Αυτός ο αφόρητος πόνος στο μηρό μου τι είναι; Μου κόψατε το πόδι; Ποιος ουρλιάζει; Εγώ; Μα γιατί… όλα είναι υπέροχα! Όχι, δε θα ’ρθω ακόμα μαζί σου! Θα μείνω. Δε σ’ ακούω πολύ καλά. Νομίζω όμως τώρα πως νυστάζω, είμαι κουρασμένη. Άσε με να κοιμηθώ λιγάκι και τα λέμε μετά. Δεν έχω ολοκληρώσει. Θα μείνω. Ναι, σίγουρα θα μείνω. Από το λευκό στο πράσινο. Βούτηξα στη λίμνη με τα καταπράσινα νερά-μάτια. Ο πόνος πέρασε. Είμαι μια χαρά τώρα. Μόνο το πόδι μου πονάει. Ωχ, λες να μην μπορέσω να ξαναχορέψω; ρωτάω. Όχι, θα μπορέσω, μου λένε. Για την ακρίβεια, σε έξι ώρες θα μπορώ και πάλι να περπατάω. Α, ωραία! Θα κατέβω για καφέ και τσιγάρο στο κυλικείο. Τώρα ησύχασα, τώρα μπορώ να ξεκουραστώ.

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Το φορείο τραντάζεται πάλι. Φωνές. Αυτή τη φορά: «Τον χάνω. Δε μπορώ να κάνω την τραχειοτομή. Φωνάξτε τον γιατρό κι έναν χειρουργό». Κίνηση. Φασαρία. Ένα επίμονο μπίιιιιιιιιπ από μια καρδιά που έχει σταματήσει. Ποιανού είναι; Δικιά μου; Δεν μπορώ να μιλήσω. Δεν μπορώ να δω. Δεν μπορώ να κουνηθώ. Τα χέρια και τα πόδια μου είναι εκατό κιλά το καθένα. Όλη μου η δύναμη φτάνει δε φτάνει για να κουνήσω τα βλέφαρά μου, απαλά σα φτερούγισμα πεταλούδας. Μια πόρτα ανοίγει διάπλατα. Κάποιος ορμάει μέσα. Το πουκάμισο με τις ψιλές πολύχρωμες ρίγες ανοιχτό μπροστά κι από μέσα μακό. Τα μάτια καρφωμένα πάνω στα δικά μου. Τόσο σταθερά όσο πριν. Παραισθήσεις έχω! Τι βάζουν κι αυτοί οι γιατροί μέσα στη μέθη; Ντίρλα με κάνανε! Δυο νοσοκόμες ορμάνε πάνω στο όραμά μου και το σπρώχνουν έξω από την πόρτα. Ναι, παραισθήσεις έχω. Δε μπορεί να είσαι εδώ. Δε μπορεί να είμαι εδώ. Δεν γίνεται να συναντιόμαστε στο θάλαμο ανάνηψης του ΑΧΕΠΑ λες και είμαστε βόλτα στο κέντρο της πόλης. Κλείνω ξανά τα μάτια σαστισμένη. Είμαι κουρασμένη. Όχι, και βέβαια δεν σε είδα! Ποιος θα σ’ άφηνε να μπεις εδώ; Κανείς δεν τόλμησε να μπει από τους τόσους συγγενείς και φίλους που στέκονται γεμάτοι αγωνία έξω από την πόρτα. Μόνο εσύ ήσουν ο έξυπνος που σκέφτηκε να την ανοίξει; Κι εσύ, ρε σύμπαν, απ’ όλες τις στιγμές αυτή διάλεξες να συγχρονιστείς; Ουφ, δε μπορώ να κάνω τόσο δύσκολους συλλογισμούς. Κι αν τελικά δεν είναι όραμα; Τα χάλια μου έχω — και είμαι σχεδόν γυμνή! Σκεπασμένη μ’ ένα λευκό σεντόνι μόνο. Η αλογοουρά μου είναι έτοιμη να λυθεί κι ούτε τα χέρια μου δεν μπορώ να κουνήσω. Κι είμαι κατάλευκη, ασορτί με το σεντόνι. Πού πήγαν οι τιρκουάζ καρό μου πιτζάμες; Μεταξύ μας, κι αυτές τα χάλια τους είχαν! Καλύτερα που δεν με είδες. Όσο περνά η ώρα, τόσο βεβαιώνομαι πως ήταν όραμα. Τι ωραίο που ήταν! Τουλάχιστον σε είχα στα όνειρά μου — και το καλύτερο είναι ότι ζω! Θα έχω άπλετο χρόνο να σε ξαναδώ. Και να σου ξαναμιλήσω. Και ίσως μια μέρα μ’ αφήσεις να σ’ αγκαλιάσω… Είμαι τόσο χαρούμενη! Οι νοσοκόμες, δίπλα μου, απορούν που γελάω. Στο διπλανό φορείο μόλις έχασαν ένα παλικάρι εικοσιπέντε χρονών από ανακοπή. Ανοίγω ξανά τα μάτια και λέω, «Σας παρακαλώ, μπορείτε να με μετακινήσετε τώρα κάπου αλλού; Εγώ έζησα!»
Έξω από τ’ ανοιχτό παράθυρο της Εντατικής ακούγονται τζιτζίκια και καλοκαιρινά μουρμουρίσματα. Μέσα, μόνο οι βαριές ανάσες άλλων πέντε γενναίων. Πόσο ξεκούραστη νιώθω! Πόσο ήρεμη. Και δεν έχω τίποτε να κάνω και να φροντίσω. Εδώ άλλοι φροντίζουν για μένα. Ν’ ανοίξω τα μάτια και να γυρίσω στην καθημερινότητα ή να παραμείνω λίγο ακόμη στη νιρβάνα μου; Νιώθω κοντά μου ανθρώπινες παρουσίες και τα σωληνάκια μου μετακινούνται. Τι ελπίδες έχω να είσαι κοντά μου όταν ανοίξω τα μάτια;
Τ’ ανοίγω.
Δεν είσαι.
Δυο-τρεις φίλοι στην αρχή, οι πιο αγαπημένοι. Η μαμά με το παιδί στο σπίτι. Το παιδί πρέπει να μείνει μακριά. Οι φίλοι γίνονται έξι, δώδεκα, εικοσιτέσσερις… δεν ξέρω, χάνω το μέτρημα. Οι νοσοκόμες γκρινιάζουν: «Μπάχαλο την κάνατε την εντατική, μαντάμ. Κι απαγορεύονται κανονικά οι επισκέψεις». Πφ, βλακείες! Ό,τι θέλω θα κάνω! Μια χαρά είμαι. Φέρτε μου, σας παρακαλώ, το κινητό μου, τα τσιγάρα μου και μια καθαρή πιτζάμα — όχι καρό, όχι τιρκουάζ! Προτιμώ την καλή, την κεντημένη. Νομίζω πως θα σηκωθώ σε λίγο. Είμαι σταρ. Οι φίλοι μου επί το έργον: μία κρατάει σημειώσεις καθώς εγώ υπαγορεύω τι χρειάζεται να φέρουμε από το σπίτι, η άλλη τηλεφωνάει από το κινητό της για να δούμε τι γίνεται στο σπίτι, η τρίτη έχει βγάλει το ρουζ της και με μακιγιάρει. «Ποπό χλομάδα, βρε κορίτσι μου! Σα να σου ήπιε το αίμα ο κόμης Δράκουλας!» Άλλη μού χτενίζει τα μαλλιά, άλλη προσπαθεί να με σουλουπώσει με τα σεντόνια προσέχοντας να μην κουνηθούν τα δεκάδες σωληνάκια. Τρεις, δικοί μου πάλι, συζητάνε για το πώς θα ομορφύνουν την Εντατική και μετακινούν κοντά μου κάδρα που κρέμονται στην άλλη πλευρά του δωματίου, τραπεζάκια, καρέκλες. Η φίλη μου σκύβει και μουρμουρίζει συνωμοτικά σε μια νοσοκόμα: «Για καλύτερο φενγκ-σούι το κάνουμε, δεσποινίς! Όλοι οι ασθενείς θα γίνουν καλά εδώ μέσα». Η νοσοκόμα με ρωτά απορημένη, «Ποια είστε, κυρία; Είστε διάσημη; Πολύ κόσμο έχετε απέξω!» Ο πιο πλακατζής της παρέας ήδη λέει ανέκδοτα. Γέλια, φωνές, πάρτι με πρωταγωνίστρια εμένα, τη διάσημη Αμαζόνα που νίκησε τον Χάρο! Ο γιατρός έρχεται και διαλύει την ωραία παρέα. Τι κρίμα… και περνούσαμε τόσο καλά… Οι διπλανοί μας… μάλλον όχι! Αντέστε τώρα όλοι στα σπιτάκια σας.
Ίσως έρθει κι ο αγαπημένος μου, σκέφτομαι με κρυφή ελπίδα. Θα έμαθε μέχρι τώρα τι έγινε κι οι ώρες περνούν.
Δίπλα στο κρεβάτι απλωμένο το μικρό ροζ χαρτάκι δείχνει την πορεία της καρδιάς μου. Μια τεθλασμένη μαύρη γραμμή που σχηματίζει τ’ όνομα σου. Χαμογελάω. Σκέφτομαι ότι αυτό το αστειάκι δε θα το άντεχες καθόλου παρά το εξαιρετικό σου χιούμορ. Δε βαριέσαι. Μήπως είναι το μόνο που δεν θ’ άντεχες; Τι θα ’χες κάνει αν είχα πεθάνει με τ’ όνομά σου τελευταίο στα χείλη μου;
Έφυγαν όλοι και πήρε να νυχτώνει. Τι ώρα να ναι; Βλέπω το ροζ απ’ το χαρτάκι να λιώνει και να ξεφεύγει προς το ηλιοβασίλεμα. Βάφει και ομορφαίνει τους παλιούς τοίχους του νοσοκομείου. Θα ’ναι οχτώ… οχτώμισι. Τι σημασία έχει; Πέρσι, χτες, σήμερα, αύριο, σε δύο χρόνια, σε δέκα ζωές! Τα κατάφερα.
Σ’ το υποσχέθηκα.

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Ο επίλογος της νικήτριας

Με σίγουρα βήματα κι ένα πλατύ χαμόγελο προχωράω προς τη σκηνή για να παραλάβω το βραβείο μου. Παίρνω μια βαθιά ανάσα και κοιτάω συνεπαρμένη τον κόσμο στη μεγάλη αίθουσα που γίνεται η εκδήλωση. Πόσο μ’ αρέσει να μιλάω σε κοινό! Κρατώ το βλέμμα μου σταθερό, εστιασμένο στο βάθος της αίθουσας…
Είπα θα το ξεπεράσω όπως λέμε «θα βγω μια βόλτα να πάρω αέρα» κι ανάρρωσα, έκοψα το τσιγάρο, τον καφέ, τα φάρμακα. Και βγήκα από το πένθος, μπήκα στην καλύτερη δουλειά του κόσμου, ανακαίνισα το σπίτι, έμαθα να χορεύω, άρχισα να γράφω, αντιμετώπισα φοβίες, διάβασα στοίβες από βιβλία και πέτυχα λίστες ολόκληρες από στόχους μικρούς και στόχους μεγάλους. Έζησα! Και τώρα εγώ, η ίδια, που εξελίσσομαι κι αλλάζω, γυρνώ πίσω και σε ψάχνω. Όχι για να σε ξεπεράσω. Για να σ’ ευχαριστήσω που δεν κατάφερες να μου παραχωρήσεις λίγο χρόνο, που δεν επικοινώνησες, που δεν μου έδωσες ποτέ προτεραιότητα, που δεν με κράτησες στην αγκαλιά που ονειρεύτηκα. Κι όσες φορές μού αρνήθηκες μια συνάντηση, μ’ έστελνες, άθελα σου, σε μια καινούργια πρόκληση αυτογνωσίας συμβάλλοντας στη δημιουργία της ύπαρξης που είμαι σήμερα.
Συνέχισε να με εμπνέεις! Ακόμα χάνω ένα-δύο χτύπους όταν σε κοιτώ. Ακόμα θέλω ν’ ακούσω τον χτύπο της καρδιάς σου, καρδιά μου…
Αυτό το βραβείο είναι και λιγάκι δικό σου. Σου το αφιερώνω!
Τώρα ξέρεις.

Οποιαδήποτε ομοιότητα με πραγματικά πρόσωπα, τόπους ή καταστάσεις είναι συμπτωματική.
Η συγγραφέας δεν πιστεύει στις συμπτώσεις.

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Feng Shui Flying Stars for 2012

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Administrator

The Water Dragon Year 2012 is almost here, starting the 4th Feb!  The different types of energy – flying stars – ‘fly’ to different sectors of the house and stay there for a whole year. This is the Time Dimension of Feng Shui and you can find more information on how to interpret the suggestions in Feng Shui Articles. Life Spheres prefers to balance homes by minimum readjustments, just by focusing on balancing the 5 elements in color, shape and material.

Here they are for 2012:

The 2012 Flying Stars

The 2012 Flying Stars

South: The successful Water 1# helps us with our reputation this year. Excellent place to have a study, family room or main door. Choose blues and metal colors but keep balance with some small plants. You should never sit with your back to South this year while eating or working.

SouthWest: The quarrelsome Wood 3# visits the ladies, the mothers, marriages and relationships in general. It needs metal colors (whites, silver, gold) to keep quiet and away from irritations and arguments. Avoid at all cost greens, blues and water elements (fountains, televisions, radios, etc). Lights and candles are very good here this year.

West: The prosperous, good fortune Earth 8# is visiting the children’s and new projects/beginnings’ sector. If this happens to be your main door, it is just wonderful and you can expect plenty of nice surprises and a great deal of luck. Avoid plants and water colors and celebrate Earth in all its magnitude. Lights on!

NorthWest: The violent Metal 7# threatens with violence, lawsuits, legal problems and robberies. Avoid metal and earth colors and keep quiet. Negative stars need to be as least activated as possible. Place blue colors and some plants.

North: The Earth 2# brings illness and natural disasters with it. Wise to keep lights off and avoid color red. No television or radios in this area at all cost. Place big wide-leaves plants. If it is a bedroom, instead of plants, choose metal and wooden objects and white and green colors.

NorthEast: The Fire 9# is a positive energy but also serves as a joker. If the monthly star is negative, it gets double bad because of 9# and if the monthly star is positive, it gets great. Keep an eye on the monthly star and do not over-activate. Nice spot for television, dining table, family room, bedroom and main door.

East: The Romantic Wood 4# brings luck to finding new love. Avoid too much water.

SouthEast: The Earth 5# brings severe illness and lots of bad luck. Wise to keep lights off and avoid color red. No television or radios in this area at all cost. Place big wide-leaves plants. The good news is that plants will at the same time take care of the negative energy as well as make the abundance and cash flow sector stronger. If it is a bedroom, instead of plants, choose metal and wooden objects and white and green colors. In times of economical crisis, having the 5# bring more hurdles and misfortune in our finances needs extra attention. Make sure you do not face SouthEast while sleeping, working or eating.

Center: The Metal 6# at the center of the house is a great improvement from last year and its good energy radiates in all other sectors. No further action really necessary. Just avoid the water element in all its shapes and forms.

Take care and tap into the good energy areas in your home and work place!

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Let’s get dry!

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Administrator

‘Children with bedwetting are not lazy. They are great students, athletes, musicians and generally wonderful kids.’ This powerful statement stuck in my mind ever since I read ‘Seven Steps to Nighttime Dryness’ by Renee Mercer, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner with a more than 20 year experience.

Truth be told, a great deal of parents and kids get frustrated and embarrassed by bedwetting during night. Mrs. Renee Mercer explains how the urinary system works, what to expect at what age and how bedwetting can even be hereditary. Bedwetting is not a child’s fault or caused by poor parenting. Other factors play a role and they can all be addressed.

‘Supporting your child is crucial to success’ according to Mrs. Renee Mercer who further explains the reasons why it is not a good idea to ‘wait for children above 6 years old to grow out of it’. Treating bedwetting is easier for a 6 year old than a 13 year old plus the kid’s social life and confidence are greatly improved.

Quite interestingly an ordinary alarm will not help make any progress as a bedwetting alarm does. Both my children (5 & 6 years old) are very sound sleepers and we would regularly find them in wet sheets, had they drunk excessively after a certain time during the evening.

The bedwetting alarm was the solution for our family as well as many others’ I had the opportunity to share our experiences with.

In case you would like to know more: Bedwetting Handbook Excerpts & more.

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Parenting is a two way journey – Teaching as well as Learning by H.H.Sri Sri Ravishankar, Founder, Art of Living

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Administrator

Some thoughts I go back to every now & then to find inspiration - by Sri Sri Ravishankar, the founder of Art of Living – www.aol.org - Enjoy!

7 June 2010,
Bangalore Ashram, India

Sri Sri Address to parents

It is very difficult for me to talk about parenting. I have no experience. But I can give you some ideas through observation. You have to put this into your experience and see. If you are very orderly, children will make you chaotic. Children are best to break your boundaries. I remember one of my uncles used to be very strict and discipline with me and my sister very much. When he had a son, his son started disciplining him, broke all his barriers. So, your children teach you a lot that others may not be able to. The first thing for us is to observe a kid, its tendencies, and the direction the kid is taking. It is a two way journey. What do you want to learn from them? And what do you want to teach them? Don’t try to put them through your own vision. You have to share your vision with them and persuade them if their vision is wrong. Every child has come to this planet with certain tendencies, certain basics which cannot be changed. And he/she acquires certain things which can be controlled. Are you with me? It is a big exercise. If you are a very much disciplined person, child can create chaos in your life, and they can show you your place, make you break your barriers. We have to be very sensitive. This is one thing that we have to keep in our mind. If you tell children not to lie, and ask them to reply a phone call saying you are not at home, this is simply not going to work. Having an argument in front of your children will make it worse. If you want to have some argument between you and your spouse, you better give your children some job, and then fight as much as you can. But by the time they come back, you better patch up.
We encourage the tendency in children not to give things away, and holding onto things. When that goes beyond a certain limit, we feel suffocated. We often tell them to keep things to themselves. Then they get this tendency of holding back. Small actions can reflect one’s personality. It can be a hindrance to one’s personality. At the same time we can encourage their giving and sharing attitude, and that can develop one’s personality. So, we can do a lot in modifying the acquired talents or personality of a kid. But you cannot do anything with the seed that a child is born with. That will anyway come. These two aspects we have to distinguish, and that is wisdom. And half the job is done if you can do that. The rest half, you have to leave it to God. You have no control on rest half. So this whole process teaches a lot of patience and perseverance, and yet leading them to where they should be going. Giving them a dream and persuading them to walk towards the dream is a biggest challenge in front of parents. So, expose them to multifarious activities. This has to be done before a child is 10 or 11. You should take the child to science, arts and expose them to all the faculties including doing service. On one Sunday, give them some chocolates and ask them to distribute to the poorest people. Once or twice in an year, take them to slum and ask them to do social service. This would enhance their personality in some unknown manner and same thing in studies.
You have to expose them to both science and music. The left brain as well as the right brain has to be nourished. You know, the concept of Saraswati, Goddess of learning, is so amazing. If you look at the symbol of Saraswati, there is a musical instrument, a book and a rosary in her hands. Book symbolizes nourishing the left brain, the musical instrument symbolizes nourishing the right brain and rosary symbolizes the meditative aspect. So, knowledge, music and meditation – all three are required to make the education complete. Then you can call someone educated and civilized. So, make sure that children learn music and yoga. And also make sure that the children have a scientific tempo, and they ask questions. Encourage them to ask questions. A child starts asking questions at the age of three. Then on they keep asking questions. Many times, they come up with questions of which you have no answer. How many parents have this experience? They make you wonder. They make you ponder on reality which is stunning. So, it is very necessary for them to inculcate both music and scientific tempo.
Then see the personality of your child. See that they interact with various age groups. How do they interact with little ones? How do they interact with the ones who are older to them? How do they interact with someone of their own age group? This is something very important. You can understand with this whether they are developing any superiority or inferiority complex, or if they are becoming introvert or extrovert. And you can play a very important role here. Play some games with them, and encourage them to interact with all the age groups, and we can mold their personality to a very central, talented and flexible human being, to a personality which is free of complexes. Children who have inferiority complex would like to interact more with the younger ones and would try to run away from elder ones and even try to avoid their equals. People with superiority complex try to shun the younger ones, and would only want to relate to the older ones. They are not good communicators in either case. As parents, you can teach them communication skills. It is very important for them to learn how to communicate.
I want you to do an exercise. Tell to the person sitting next to you, “I don’t trust you”. This is a chance to say it if it is your spouse (Jokingly)! (After some period of time when audience couldn’t do it even after being asked upon two – three times) You cannot do it seriously. See how difficult it is to tell someone that you don’t trust him/her. It is difficult to tell someone that you trust him/her. But it is even more difficult to tell someone that you don’t trust him/her. Did you get it? Did you notice you did something that you never did before? You told someone that you don’t trust him/her and you start smiling. Has this ever happened to you before? Children have a trusting tendency by nature. But somehow their trust is broken. We need to look into that. Do they trust themselves? Do they have enough confidence in themselves? A healthy child has three kinds of trust.

A healthy child will have three kinds of trust – Trust in the divinity, trust in the goodness of people and trust in one self. A healthy child will not think that everybody is a thief or everybody is bad. He/ She doesn’t get into this sort of paranoia. A healthy child knows that people are good. A healthy child has trust in himself/ herself and trust in the unseen power of God, Divinity, some higher power. These three types of trusts can make a child genius .These are the ingredients to make a very talented and genius child. To nurture them, we need to bring about these tendencies in them.
If you keep telling children that everyone is a cheat, the child loses its trust in the people around and the society in general. Their personality, talents and communication skills will shrink. Their interaction with people will suffer a great deal. They become unsuccessful business persons, unsuccessful professionals and unsuccessful artists. They may have talents but this is the result you will get if trust in people and in the goodness of things as they are is taken away. Today, you have many young people who want to be entrepreneurs, but they are not successful. You know why? This is the reason. They don’t trust in the goodness of people nor do they trust in themselves. As parents we have to build these things in a child. Do you encourage if they come to you with complaints? What do you do? Do you encourage the negativity? Or you mould it to something positive. You have to play a balanced role. Sometimes your child comes to you and says so and so is so good, and you know that that friend of your son/ daughter is not so good. Here you have to point out their mistakes and bring them to the center line sometimes. They get swayed away by somebody and you know their habits are not so good, then you have to tell the negative things. But if they are telling you negative things about somebody, then you have to point out the positive. So, you have to have a balancing act whenever a child swings too much to the left or too much to the right. Do you agree with me? We create an atmosphere around us. If we create an atmosphere of trust and children grow in that atmosphere, they become brilliant. But, if we create an atmosphere of negativity, distrust, or dejection, they are going to reflect and bounce the same thing on us. Having come here today, I want to give you an exercise to do which I want you to do every day. When you come back from work and meet your children, the first thing you do is clap with them, or play, or laugh. It may look little artificial for one or two days. But later on, it will become a breakthrough for you and your kids. Sit and have food with the whole family, as much as possible, at least 3 to 4 times a week. And while having food, don’t tell them they are bad. While serving them food, don’t put down their moods. There is a time to tell them when they are wrong, never on the dining table.
Close your eyes for 30 seconds. Just suppose that everyone is telling you that they don’t trust you. Think no one trusts you. How do you feel?(After 30 seconds) Open your eyes. Bad, sad, unhappy! You know this is the atmosphere we create- ‘I don’t trust you, I don’t trust you’ .It is an effort to create an healthy atmosphere, I understand because your life is not only your own children. You have so many other things; you have to interact with so many other people. When you have no control over your own moods, it is difficult to make a mood or create an atmosphere just for the sake of children. But we need to make an effort. So, let us quickly go over once again. Have dinner with the kids atleast 3-4 times in a week. And when you are having food, don’t point out their mistakes or blame them. See that their mood is uplifted. See that their personality is developed such that they don’t feel the generation gap. They interact with elders as well as youngsters. Give them some responsibility of youngsters and sometimes some responsibility to do something for older ones by which you can bridge their generation gap.
Make sure that they have little bit of both science and arts. If you find your child is too much oriented towards music and arts and doesn’t care for science, then you put in little effort to take them to science museum or make them do some mathematics. Encourage them a little bit towards science. If they are too much into science and mathematics, give from musical side as well. It is not difficult to put them on musical side, because they always have musical or artistic side to them. But especially boys, you will have to encourage them a little more .Girls naturally have an inclination towards arts.
Engage them in some project where they are contributing, they are giving rather than acquiring or possessing. We need to do something to inculcate this tendency in children. Just small things, it doesn’t have to be anything big. See that they have three types of trust. Trust in the goodness of people. Tell them the stories or good happenings in the world not just only the negative things. Trust in themselves, encourage them. Sometimes they say, “I can’t do it”. Encourage them and tell them that they can do it. And then trust in the goodness in the society. If they grow up with the feeling of mistrust or fear, there will be paranoia. Their personality will start shrinking, they can never blossom, they can never be good communicators in the society. Trust the society and trust in divinity. A little bit of ritual is essential to create an atmosphere for children. Make them sit and do some chanting. Ask them to light a candle a lamp, some little bit of ritual is good for them to hold on. Make them to break a coconut or go to temple. It is important to root a little bit of sanskara about something that is supernatural. Don’t you think it is necessary? A faith in the unknown can take them a long way. Not too much, though, just a little bit. Make them read a few shalokas. These things will develop their personality.
When children are very positive about their friends, give them a little caution, but not too much. If they are very negative about some friends, show that that there is something positive coming out there also. In this way, you are pushing them to the center, not letting them fall on either side.
Learn from them. Don’t always stand up as a teacher. But participate with them and learn from them.

Q: How to cope up with child’s expectation when they compare themselves with others and demand those things that others have? They say that so and so is groomed well and they also want same kind of stuff. You have to tell children that you can only give that much and they shouldn’t compare themselves with others. But it is important that you don’t give them any false hope. At the same time, we can give them a dream. If you pass or do this, may be you will get it. Here lies the importance of bringing them up with that sensitivity and belongingness. That is why I said if you participate instead of teaching them, they will not even ask you. They should be a participant in your life. Then they will be sensitive towards you, rather than putting a demand on you. Before you become a good father or mother, you need to become a good uncle or aunt. Are you getting what I am saying? You should communicate more with friends of your children. They will listen to you. Suppose, if your son’s/daughter’s friends have any wrong habit, you can influence them to change. They listen to you more than their own parents. Similarly, other parents can take care of other’s children better than their own children.

Sri Sri :

Q: There is so much competition in society that kids have no time to relax. There is a fear that they will not fit into society. How do we handle this situation? What is the mantra for excellence? I think you shouldn’t push them too much. You should teach them to relax. That is why I said music, meditation, some games will all help.

Sri Sri:

Q: Children don’t care about their parents when they grow up. So many old age homes are there. Where do we fail as parents and what is your advice to parents so that this situation could be controlled? That is why I am saying these three types of trust are very important – Trust in oneself, in goodness of others and in the Divine. A little bit of religion, moral and spiritual values, and the way you treat your parents and ask them to treat their grandparents can make an impact on them. So, you tell your children to take care of their grandparents. They will start doing that way.

Sri Sri:

Q: How can spiritual practices strengthen academic progress? Definitely. you know there has been a research recently from England that the children who study Sanskrit excel in mathematics and linguistic function of their brain become so much better that these children can learn any language from Chinese to English to Russia easily. Researchers worked for 15 years and they find out these results. Three schools in England have made Sanskrit compulsory in the school. They also did research why India is Excellent in IT. Indian brain is more suitable on computer. This is because of the background of Sanskrit language. So, it is good to have your children study Sanskrit. Apart from this there are number of researches which show how doing pranayama enhance the performance of children. They feel more calm, attentive, and more alert. They are able to perceive and digest better. There are number of such benefits that have been proved. You can look into the yes+ website for the benefits that a child gets in academic field.

Sri Sri:

Q: Today, children are getting more attracted to western culture. My son gets annoyed if jeans is washed after one wear. We have to pay an extra amount to get torn jeans, that is how he loves to wear it. How can we bring a change in this attitude? You know, all these fashions keep on changing. So, don’t worry. None of the fashion can stay forever. You create such awareness in your children and their friends. You inspire them to adopt some different styles. That is why I am telling every parent has to be a good uncle and aunt. You can’t care for your children only. You have to care for their friends. You should have at least six parties for your children at home in a year where you should interact with friends of your children. Call them all over to your house, have a pajama party, sit with them, talk to them, share stories, find out from them. If you spend one Saturday evening in two months, you can make a great difference.

Sri Sri:

Q: Please give guidance on parenting special children. What can be done for them through the ‘Art of living’? You simply serve them. Don’t pity them. You know, people with special needs, their soul is in a different state. They are not in a sorry state. They have come to this planet just to take service. With this attitude, you do service. Never have sympathy – ‘oh poor child’. Children with special needs have come just to take service from you.

Sri Sri:

Q: How do we know children are into drugs or just moody? This you can find out. That’s why it is important for you to know them and their friend circle. You will get to know what they do, where they go, keep a tab on them, especially teenage. It is very difficult time. They are undergoing such a biological change. So, they are not just satisfied with the love of their parents, their body is discovering new things. They are looking for some love from outside – an emotional support, a physical pleasure. Their mind is in such confusion. So, to deal with teenage children is a big task. That’s why we have this yes and yes+ course, which is for teens. I tell you, these courses have opened up children in such a way which I cannot even describe.
In one of the courses in New Delhi, 1000 youths participated. We asked a question, “whom do you hate foremost?” 80 percent said their professor, 75 percent of them said the second most hated is their parents. In this country where we say, Maatra devo bhava, pitra devo bhava, aacharya devo bhava, atithi devi bhava, Mother, father, teachers and guests are considered such ideals and manifestations of Divine. It is appalling to see them start hating them. We don’t want violence and stress in our education system at any cost. We do not want gun culture as is happening in America. There is so much violence in class rooms there. Present year report says that campus violence have tripled in America from what it was in 90’s. So, it is very dangerous and we do not want this thing in India. That is why we need to bring moral and spiritual values, ethical values of compassion, friendliness and love.

Sri Sri:

Q: youth is so aggressive. We give them everything they ask for, yet there is no satisfaction. They are so hyperactive. How to mellow down such hyperactive kids especially when they are hurting others? Just bring them to yes and yes+ course. When these kids in Delhi do the course, their parents were wondering what we had done to their kids. They have become so nice. They never thought about the kind of transformation that they saw in their kids after the curse. The same kids who earlier said they hated their parents started caring about their parents, sending them notes expressing their love for them, and asking them what can they do for them. There was total transformation in these kids. In 43 universities of America, yes+ clubs are there. In Cornell University and several other, it is credit now. So if you do yes+ course, do meditation, practices, you get credit. World is recognizing this now and better India start doing it. We will have to teach them meditation and ways to manage their own negative emotions.

Sri Sri:

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How to do TAT for a stressful event you experienced

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Administrator

Tapas Fleming www.tatlife.com has developed this very effective technique called TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique) where within minutes the intensity of negative emotions connected to a stressful event diminishes. The more you practice, the more you benefit and detach stressful thoughts deriving from past experiences. I have personally benefited by TAT and it is an easy script that anyone can download and follow with immediate results: www.tatlife.com/booklet
More often tha not, the solution to anxiety and stress problems can be overcome by such simple and free methods at home. And of course, you can always choose to work with a TAT professional listed in the same website.

Enjoy while cleaning up your lovely nervous system!

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‘Get ready for 2012′ Life Coaching offer!

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Administrator

2012 is almost here and why wait for the new year’s resolutions when you can already work on them now? Would you like to explore your belief systems, values and mind strategies? Ask yourself different questions and understand better why you do what you do? Set goals and priorities and follow up on them easily and more consciously? Book a Life Coaching package of 5 hourly sessions now and profit from the 10% discount valid until the end of 2011. Drop old limitations and open up to a fresh start!

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Feng Shui offer for the newly-weds!

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Administrator

Off to a new phase in your life? Getting married or moving in together?

Have a Feng Shui Consultation before the end of the year and get a discount of 15%! Tap into your home’s energy and learn how to create a supporting environment to all your new projects! The Life Spheres Feng Shui Consultation approach  provides the residents with detailed valuable information of all the elements  that affect them where they live, eat, sleep, work and play. The key ingredient is that it unites NLP basic principles with the old chinese practice. It respects the existing tastes of the residents and decorational styles with minimal changes and additions. Explore the subtle and yet very powerful energies around you!

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