Life is cyclical. It curves and bends and folds back on itself in the most interesting patterns…

Lately, I’ve found myself revisiting some old issues dealing with the themes of balance, boundaries and empowerment. Just last year I started Wake Up Goddess so that my life would be more balanced, so that I could have healthier boundaries around work and so that I could feel empowered in what I do.

But to tell you the truth, I’ve spent the last month in a bit of a tailspin. I’ve been overbooked, overburdened and bogged down in the minutiae. Ironically, these are exactly the spiritual issues that I was teaching about in my 3-week Spirit Guided teleseminar series “Reclaiming Your Life: Body, Mind & Spirit” which ended last night.

The beauty of the spiritual process and my own spiritual path is that by hosting these virtual workshops, I was given exactly what I need to receive in the exact moment I needed it ~ simply by sharing it with others. 

As I was pulling all of the spiritual tools and techniques together for my virtual workshops, I was reminded to keep using them in my own life. And then I was reminded how incredibly damn effective they are!

The results for me and my clients over this past 3-weeks have been amazing. Personally, working with my Guides in such a focused manner has helped me reconnect with my own purpose as a teacher.

The process has also helped me let go of my issues around control and spiritual “micro-management.” And because I was willing to play along, my Guides orchestrated some synchronistic events to hook me up with my very first virtual assistant (who I officially hired today!) so that I can get out of “overload” and start focusing on the BIG stuff!

So next month I’ll be rolling out some really cool, spirit-centered products, program and services that absolutely makes my soul sing (and hopefully yours too). And I’m more excited about my future, the futures of my clients and the future of my business than ever before.

Trust me, I’m living proof that when you honor your spirit the benefits will carry over into every other area of your life! Enjoy the journey (including the curves)!
 
 
You’ve heard me say it before… balance is an ongoing process. And all of us find ourselves a little out of kilter every now and then.

Lately, I’ve definitely been riding the rapids! I’ve overbooked myself and I haven’t been prioritizing well. And as I crowd more and more “stuff” into my day, the less time I have to honor myself by spending time on the truly important things ~ things like hot baths and long walks and watching goofy TV shows with my teenage son and making dinner with my husband.

But hosting Thursday’s Reclaiming Your Life: Body, Mind & Spirit teleseminar reminded me of just how easy it is to slide into that dark place ~ the place where you’re running ragged reacting to your world instead of flowing through it like a gentle river.

Putting together the content for this call also gave me the opportunity to pull out some of my favorite tools and to start using them again in my own life. And, not surprisingly, I'm already seeing results! (BTW, these are the same tools I share with you in the free teleseminar and the ones we’ll explore more deeply in the 3-week virtual retreat that’s coming up soon!)

Maybe the thing I love most about being a teacher is that you can always learn from your own lessons. And that’s exactly what I’m doing now ~ taking my own advice.

If you haven’t heard the call recording from my Reclaiming Your Life: Body, Mind & Spirit teleseminar, you can listen or download it for FREE until this Monday, May 17th. Just click here to register.
 
Playing It Safe 03/08/2010
 
For those of you who like to play it safe...

I realize that you may not understand me, and that my actions may seem rash and daring at times.

I get that you might think I’ve lost my mind… that I’m too bold, too outspoken and just plain too much sometimes.

I understand that my desire to shake up the status quo can be scary, even threatening, on occasion.

But please try not to judge me too harshly. Because behind every “rash” decision I make is a well-thought out plan, and every “daring” action I take is an intuitive act of spirit-guided faith.

Sometimes I do allow myself to “lose” my rational mind so that my creative and inspirational mind can step forward. And because I’m confident in who I am and how I move through this world, I will often take risks, say things others are thinking but are too afraid to voice, and generally push the envelope.

And no, I’m not afraid to shake things up when they’re not working and I can’t, in good conscious apologize if that makes you uncomfortable because maybe, just maybe, you needed to step out of your own comfort zone to grow.

Just in case you’re wondering, sometimes I am afraid to take these risks, but I do it anyways, because I’m more afraid of being stuck. So, yes, I can be bit unpredictable at times (just ask my husband), but that can be a lot of fun if you’re willing to surrender to it.

And sure, every once in awhile, no matter how good my intentions are, I screw things up along the way (oh the stories I could tell you!), but I generally learn from my mistakes and I keep going because, really, what’s the alternative?

So I offer you this blog post, not because I’m seeking your approval, or because I expect your validation. I offer it instead to thank you for your patience as we share this space together. I offer it to thank you for being the stabilizing forces in the world so that those of us who are too restless to rest can keep working and playing and dancing our vision into existence.

I offer it to say, I understand where you’re coming from and sometimes wish I could play it safe too. I wish I could be happy with a stable 9 to 5 job and a two-week vacation every year. But I’m just not made that way. It’s not that I’m better (believe me I don’t think that at all!), I’m just wired differently.

I have a gypsy spirit. And to put that gypsy spirit in a suit and sensible shoe and march off to work every day with a briefcase in my hand ~ like I did for nearly a decade ~ is the spiritual equivalent of drinking cyanide for breakfast for folks like me.

So although I don’t expect you to understand, approve or condone my actions. There’s nothing to say you can’t just sit back and enjoy the show.

To stay connected with Michele, click here to sign up for the Wake Up Goddess ezine.
 
 
Yesterday was a difficult day. Why? (Cue rant…) My grandpop discovered that the cancer that had been in remission for years has returned more aggressively than before. My brother-in-law had his second car accident in two days. My mom’s dog was hit by a car. My best friend’s grandfather was admitted into the hospital for kidney failure. And I’m fighting off a miserable little sinus infection that makes my head feel like it’s going to explode. (End rant... refocus...)

Yesterday was a difficult day. But today will be better.

Today I will focus on the fact that grandpop is in good spirits and that I have the pleasure of enjoying his company while he’s here from his home in Belize for his medical treatments. I will be grateful that my brother-in-law, who I love like a brother, is absolutely fine. I will breathe easier because, although my mom’s dog is a little banged up, she’s not badly hurt. I will remember that my friend’s grandfather is surrounded by loving family and uplifted by the prayers of those who can’t be near him physically. And finally, I will honor myself by caring for my body and soul in ways I've neglected lately.

Like many of us, I have a terrible habit of letting my own health and wellbeing go when I’m stressed out. I don’t exercise; I eat foods that lower my vibration, making me feel heavy and weighed down; I don’t sleep at night; I work too much; and I don’t take the proper time for meditation, journaling and all the other things that ground and center me in my spirituality and help me reconnect with my divine nature and spiritual support system.

But today will be better. Today I’m going to start out with a long walk to clear my head and listen to my Guides. I might even follow that up with a little yoga just for good measure. Then I’m going to take a good healthy dose of vitamins and eat wholesome, nourishing foods throughout the day that make me feel vibrant and alive. I’m even going to see if I can schedule a massage with my friend Taina who just had the most beautiful little girl, Anala Rose, who’s angelic face brings me joy and hope for the future.

Today I’m not going to race the clock or push myself into the corners of my schedule. I’m not going to worry about my deadlines. I’m going to ignore phone calls I don’t want to take and I’m not going to return e-mails unless I absolutely feel like it. Today I’m going to play a game with my son and kiss my husband on the lips and not beat myself up for anything I don’t do. Today I’m going to take care of myself so that when I need to, I can take care of others without feeling drained or stressed or overwhelmed.

Yes, yesterday was difficult, but it's over. And today will be better. It will be better because I will make it better. Because life isn’t about what happens around you or even to you, but how you move through it. My goal is to move through it with grace, and with the faith that today will be better.

For more tips on how to care for you body and soul, click here to sign up for my newsletter.
 
 
I'm one of those people who can usually hold a head cold off even when people are coughing and sneezing all around me. But last week my family was here ~ a whole tribe including two younger sisters, three nieces ranging in age from 2 to 14, and one really patient brother-in-law. And, you guessed it, they were all sick.

So despite my neurotic hand-washing (during which I sang the "Happy Birthday" song to myself to make sure I lathered long enough to get the best germ-killing results) I caught their crud, and so did my son Tyler.

In fact, Tyler's been sulking around the house with a low-grade fever for the past 3 days mumbling, "That darn baby" in a voice that sounds exactly like Napoleon Dynamite's.

As for me, being sick holds some blessings, like reminding me to take impeccable care of myself. So to this end, here is my recipe for recovery when coping with the common cold:

1st ~ Nap all day long and allow yourself to be utterly  relaxed, ignoring any distractions that would cause you stress, guilt or worry (especially house work!).

Case in point... right now my Solstice tree sites downstairs half decorated, while ceramic snowmen and stuffed Santa's look back at me with sad, knowing smiles as they prepare to make their annual sojourn into the attic. And although this would normally send me into an OCD frenzy of activity, today I pay them no attention.

2nd ~ Read a semi-trashy romance novel. It's important to have mindless entertainment when you're sick and romance novels fit the bill perfectly. Make sure to read the whole thing cover to cover and avoid full-length mirrors until you've actually washed your hair and changed out of your pajamas.

3rd ~ Take lots of long, luxurious hot baths. And use the good bath salts! I cannot stress the importance of this step enough. Water is healing in nature and soaking just feels good.

Plus, as  an added bonus, you can take your romance novel into the bathtub with you and read while you soak. Add a cup of hot tea and that's the best you can possibly feel when your sick.

And 4th ~ If you have an appetite (and I always do, even when I'm sick), eat really simple, really healthy foods. And, whenever possible, have someone serve them to you in bed.

My hubby actually did this for me yesterday and it instantly raised my energy, making me feel very well cared for and loved.

So there you have it ~ 4 tested and proven ways to "get well soon" or at least make the most of being sick.

To sign up for my newsletter, click here.

Bonus Tip ~ Stay in your most comfy pajamas all day long. I do not understand why or how, but I'm pretty sure pajamas have magical healing properties. Be well!
 
 
The New Year is a time when even the least sentimental of your pessimistic pals will wax romantic about the passage of precious time and look forward with a raised chin and a new resolve to the days ahead and the promise they hold.

It's a time when people think about new beginnings and give themselves permission to start over, no matter how badly they think they've screwed up in the past. It's a clean slate, a fresh start, a brand new day...

And why not? Why not just go ahead seize the energy of the new year and move it forward into the rest of your year? Grab hold of it with both hands ~ the promise, the possibilities ~ and leap into the next decade with abandon.

In 2010 I want to be awake in my life and live it fully. I want to taste fabulous food for the pleasure and the nourishment of it. I want to float in the ocean with my eyes closed and know that the entire sea supports me. I want to run, just because I can. I want to dance with my friends and laugh until my cheeks hurt.

And the only person who can stop me is me. So in 2010 I resolve to ~ as my Guides have so kindly suggested already (darn learning curve) ~ get out of my own way and really enjoy my life. I hope you'll join me on this amazing journey into... well, I don't know what yet, but I bet it's gonna be a blast.

Click here to sign up for your FREE Spirit Guide report and Wake Up Goddess E-zine!

 
 
This week was full of beautiful and interesting synchronicities. But in the midst of it all I also dealt with some unexpected fears and insecurities that seemed to sneak up out of nowhere.

Can I do this? Am I good enough? What was I thinking? Who will care? These are all fear-based thoughts that can paralyze us if we allow ourselves to stay stuck in them.

But as human beings, these thoughts do occasionally grab hold of us and stop us in our tracks as we walk our spiritual path. The important thing is to move past them quickly and not let them derail us from our purpose.

A few years ago this type of anxiety might have had me down for weeks, but I'm happy to say in less than 24-hours I'm already seeing the folly in these false beliefs and moving on.

Now that I'm moving out of the funk reclaiming my mojo, I can see the purpose and growth that comes from these times of fear and doubt. Yes, they do indeed make us more determined and strengthen our conviction, if we're willing to look at them for what they really are ~ lies we tell ourselves.

But I'm no longer willing to live a lie. No way! I'm moving right past that fear and into the truth of who and what I really am ~ a beautiful expression of Divine Love (and so are you!).

Blessed be!

PS ~ Click here to receive your Free Spirit Guide Report today!
 
 
I wake up this morning to a warm bed full of furry unconditional love and a little attitude. Strewn around my contorted body are all five of my pets in a humorous display of domestic co-existence.

Lounging on my legs cleaning her tiny gray face with her deadly sharp paws is the little princess of the house BBK (short for Bad Baby Kitty ~ and let me tell you she certainly lives up to her name). She usually doesn't grace me with her presence in bed ~ the couch is her domain ~ so I'm guessing the cats are out of food.

To my right, taking up my husband's place in the bed, is our basset hound Reba who climbs in bed every morning when Dave leaves for work and snores almost as loudly as the he does, making the changing of the guard nearly seamless. Her head is propped up on the pillow and she looks over at me, her hound dog eyes creating a strangely human expression as if saying, "Just five more minutes."

And at the foot of the bed are my two tailless manx cats, Jack and Lucky, practically spooning with my big brown baby Rowan. Rowan is a 10-year-old pound puppy who's grown into one of the sweetest animals I've ever had the honor of loving. She's a bit intimidating to look at ~ a half lab, half pit mix ~ but truth is she's scared to death of cats, so she's curled up into the tiniest ball she can fit her 85-pound frame into and she's trying to be very, very still so as not to draw any attention to herself.

Problem is, sensing her fear, the cats LOVE her (especially Lucky who kisses her on the face and licks her paws making Rowan absolutely crazy). Lucky and Jack are mammoth-sized cats that my husband found in a cemetery as kittens. He brought the whole litter home, along with mama, and this brother and sister duo were too cute to split up, so we kept them both.

Now those adorable little kittens, one black and one orange, each weigh over 15 pounds each and take up almost as much room on the bed as the damn basset hound (who is still snoring by the way).

Uh oh... gotta go, BBK just found her way under the covers ~ this could mean big trouble.
 
 
Life can be difficult. So today I challenge you to be silly and irreverent in the face of life's difficulties.

Today I encourage you to get out there and create some fun. Laugh and play and be ridiculous.

Flaunt your beautiful flaws and interesting imperfections. Embrace all of the seemingly contradictory aspects of yourself and have a blast doing it.

Because we are all at once sacred and silly and should feel free to express all of these parts of yourself without fear or apology. I know I will!
 
My Winding Path 10/12/2009
 
Seven years ago today... I was working at a job I hated for an organization with questionable ethics for people I didn't like or respect. My soul was suffocating so I left and found another job.

Five years ago today... I was working at a job I hated for an organization with questionable ethics for people I didn't like or respect. My soul was suffocating so I left and found another job.

Four years ago today... I was working at a job I hated for an organization with questionable ethics for people I didn't like or respect. My soul was suffocating so I left and found another job.

Are you starting to see a pattern emerge here?

Three years ago today... I was working at a job I hated for an organization with questionable ethics for people I didn't like or respect. My soul was suffocating so I left and found another job.

One year ago today... I was working as a freelance writer and project manager (finally, some progress) for an organization with questionable ethics for people I didn't like or respect. My soul was suffocating so I...

... Decided to follow my passion with purpose and I started my own business in the spiritual arts. My little business is still growing, still realizing its full potential in the world. But for the first time in my life I really LOVE what I do.

I love working with metaphysically minded people who, like me, want to grow and expand beyond the limiting reality they've known in the past. I love being my own boss and letting spirit move me to do "the right thing at the right time."

My soul is no longer suffocating. I am breathing in deeply every day the joy that this new life brings me. Now, my soul is soaring!

This weekend I presented some amazing spiritual workshops to an even more amazing group of people. All throughout the process I was in a creative, spiritual space that made the "work" I was doing seem effortless and uplifting.

This morning, still high off of this wonderful experience, I slept in a bit with my doggies curled up beside me. I laid there, warm and cozy, stretching and humming to myself as I literally felt the blessings and possibilities rain down on me from above. (Such a contrast to the dreadful, hectic Monday mornings I experienced when I lived in Corporate America.)

Now I know I am truly blessed. But I also recognize that this blessing is a direct result of my desire to change a painful and self-destructive pattern. I am blessed because I finally recognized that the problem with all those crappy jobs wasn't the job ~ it was me.

Yes, the jobs were terrible. But I chose those experiences didn't I? I chose them because I needed to learn that I didn't belong in that world. Because no matter how hard I tried, I would never belong. I had to learn to stop trying to be what everyone else thought I should be and let my wise soul lead me to my true path.

So ask yourself now... Where is my wise soul trying to lead me? What do my choices and their consequences tell me about who I really am? And what is one thing I can do today to draw myself closer to my true path?