MANIFESTING BLAHS: FEELING CAN HELP

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I was sitting here finishing off espresso and rereading a fiction reread.

Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts.  The Ardmore Trilogy is one of my favorites.

My mind drifted to a subject I’ve been writing about.

One I happen to be fiddling with at the moment.

Manifesting goals.

And the emotional ups and downs of hoping it works.

My thoughts first went to a conversation I had years back with a friend who asked how I Aaron and I met.

He was ready for a serious relationship.

We were in a bar in Royal Oak, Michigan.  I smiled at him and said the very best thing I learned from the experience was to put the intention out there.

Ask God or the universe, pray, whatever feels right to you.

Then go about living your life.  

I emphasized focusing on activities that brought joy.

We had a discussion on how doing so could get one’s mind off the waiting.

As Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part.

Years later, Aaron and I met up with him and his wife in Southern California.

Where they too had relocated from Michigan.

He drew me aside and thanked me for my words all those years ago, explaining that he followed them to the letter.

He emphasized that he made an effort to go about living his life so he wouldn’t think about what he didn’t have in the relationship area.

I felt really good that it all worked out.  Coming full circle to another goal that I have and the fact I’m searching for ways to go about my business so I don’t have to think about the fact it isn’t here yet and it occurred to me this is an area where feelings can help.

Whoa Whoa Whoa…

– Feelings, Morris Albert

I’ve written previously how I struggle with the concept of fake it til you make it.

In spite of having a good imagination.

I’m too logical.

I know I don’t have the thing I’m supposed to pretend I have.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

A few months back I was pondering this as I was trying out a new scripting technique and having trouble writing something I couldn’t connect to because it wasn’t real.

Thankfully that doesn’t happen when I’m writing a novel!

Interestingly, while referring to this book in a previous post my eyes drifted to another book on manifesting suggested by Amazon.

Manifest That Miracle by Lana Shlafer.

I downloaded a sample then went on my merry way.

Given my mindset and what was going on in my life I knew better than to try absorbing something new. I simply didn’t have the mental cycles.

I boosted my morale by rereading Henriette Anne Klauser’s Write It Down Make it Happen.

It is an upbeat book about various techniques for writing goals down in order to encourage their coming to be.

Eventually I got around to checking out the Manifest That Miracle free sample.  I knew within pages it would be worthwhile to purchase the book.  For one simple reason.  The author would be addressing a number of questions I had regarding manifesting goals, not the least of which was a technique for getting the feeling part down.

Before going further I will mention two things about this book.

  • Her life’s story is traumatic and the details may be upsetting to someone who isn’t in a good frame of mind.

I wasn’t.

To counter this I skipped over the details which was easy because I wasn’t questioning why she was qualified to author the book.

  • This is not a book I would recommend to neophytes on the internals of visualizing and writing down goals.

I consider this a 300-level course.

That is just my opinion.  I would never discourage anyone from reading her work.  She does an excellent job explaining.

I just feel people should be sold on the idea that the techniques involved with visualization and writing goals are valid and work.

I was thrilled to find that her way of explaining feelings resonated.  As a bonus and what I came to understand this morning, they are a valid way to fill that space that comes between letting go of that which no longer serves and the arrival of a specific goal.

The big empty.

Event Horizon to the Rescue!

As a writer I easily gravitate toward scripting.  However, without being able to marry feelings to it, the finished product feels like stale bread.

In terms of waiting, yesterday was a particularly challenging day.  To get my mind off my troubles I decided to engage in an activity that always leaves me feeling as if I’ve accomplished something, helping me feel really good even if nothing obvious has changed.

It helps me change my perspective which is worth its weight in patience.

A Bit of Emotional Irony

I designed Event Horizon to help make decisions and/or get clarity on a topic of concern by working through a process that neutralizes emotions that can get in the way.  What I learned is that it works on emotions associated with waiting.

Just what I needed yesterday.

Working the Event Horizon exercises brings feelings of happiness and accomplishment, along with a sense of optimism.  It also brings a number of images to mind as I write the stories that come to mind upon seeing the prompts.  These images evoke more positive feelings.

I’ve found these stories offer solutions to problems I may be dealing with and in several cases, have helped with creative writing challenges.

Feeling good, regardless of the specific event that fostered it, will definitely inject a sense of optimism into the waiting part.  As Lana writes, you feel so happy and so good about the journey you don’t worry about the when part.

Or as Mike Dooley writes, the cursed how’s.  You don’t worry about how it will come about.

Focusing on happy feelings will make it so the happiness pushes out – outshining – anything lesser. 

As Lana points out, there are a number of methods by which to get those good feelings going.  I was fortunate enough to see the app I designed – Event Horizon – is one of them!

Enjoy the journey!

MANIFESTING: MAKING ROOM

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This is generally the time of year when I contemplate career goals. 

Though one year it was all done before the end of summer.

This year the theme that came up was letting go of that which no longer serves.  My first exposure to this concept was back in 96 when I came across Terah Kathryn Collins’ book The Western Guide to Feng Shui Room by Room.  Of all the statements that resonated [at the time] the idea that every item we see chatters at us, reminding us of who gave it to us and/or where we got it, and whether that item makes us feel good or bad was the most powerful.  Once I had that philosophy as a filter it was easy to decide what action I needed to take.

One Man’s Junk

I went through the house room by room and gathered everything I no longer used or needed, as well as items that didn’t leave me feeling good. As a reward for all that work, I was able to pass along every single item to someone whose son was moving into his first apartment and needed everything.

When it comes to getting rid of that which no longer serves it can be done for general purposes which is a great way to keep up on/prevent clutter but also works for a specific goal or area in your life in which you wish to see improvement.  The reason is simple.  If you are constantly looking at something that reminds you of who you used to be or who you are now it will be hard to become the you that you believe you can be.

Or to feel it because you are surrounded by items that may be telling a different story.

Career Part One

As part of my path in tech I switched Fortune 500 companies, bringing with me experience and expertise to do my job but leaving the loyalty for my former company behind.

I had to prove that last part but it worked out and I had a very successful career at the second company as well.

There came a point where we went through a merger and I was told I – along with my peers – needed to give a presentation to the members of my new team, many of whom were from the company we merged with.

Which had been a competitor.

This was so new colleagues could learn a bit about my background and professional experience.  As I was putting it together I came to see some of the certifications I had were no longer relevant outside that I’d earned them and they came in handy when I ran into legacy systems and/or customers.  How I handled it on the slide was to poke fun at them even while making sure it was understood I was proud of them and the work it took to earn them, and that they were steps along the professional path to get me where I was at that point.

A Senior Technical Consultant.

As I write in my bio, I learned the benefit of flexibility working in an industry where change was constant.

It’s why I was drawn to the industry to begin with.  I love learning.

Though the principles still apply, it hasn’t always been as easy in my writing career.

Career Part Two

I’ve written about a bit of a wardrobe challenge in the letting go department, mostly because I had no idea of what would be next.

Having a vision of where you want to go is extremely helpful when setting goals.

As I layered this knowledge over the particular goals I have and the path I’ve traveled this far, I came to see letting go felt a little different.  It required not only seeing myself as that person who achieved the goal, but required feeling like that accomplished individual.  That was a little harder to fake.

I understood the concept of fake it til you make it but wasn’t clear on the execution.

In spite of that missing piece I took physical actions I knew supported the concept.  

  • Got rid of items that sent the wrong message about my career goals. 
  • Reminded myself doing the basics on visualization and getitng rid of what didn’t represent the me that achieved the goal had worked previously.
  • Reminded myself of other challenging goals I’ve achieved to boost my morale and confidence.
  • Acknowledged every mini victory of change – no matter how slight – in how I felt after taking action.
  • Remained open to following whatever my instincts told me I might need to do even if it didn’t make sense. 

So long as it was in line with achieving my goal.

Along the way books were put in my path that deepened my understanding and provided new techniques to try. 

As I come to a point where I’ve just about cleared out that which no longer serves I remind myself of another important piece of the puzzle, albeit one that isn’t always comfortable.  To illustrate I will give a metaphor.

New Dishes

Let’s say you want a new set of dishes.  Let’s also say that you already have some in the cupboard but maybe they are hand-me-downs from when you got your first apartment or maybe your taste has changed.  You can go about this a few different ways.  

  • You could go buy what you want but then you have to figure out what to do with what’s in there.

This assumes you know exactly what you want and you have the means to get that other set.

  • You could take whatever is in there and pass it along.

In this case you may or may not know what you want but decide to get rid of the old because you don’t like how looking at the old makes you feel.

For this scenario you have options but if you’re the kind of person that freaks out at the sight of an empty cupboard you may find yourself making a rash decision.  

One you may regret.

You need to get comfortable with the real big empty.

In the meantime you could use paper plates or find other work-arounds.  Remember, this is just a metaphor.

When we let go of that which no longer serves – items that may be sending a message that becomes an emotional block to attaining the goal – we need to live with a between part until the goal finds its way into that space. There is no set timeframe on how long this between part may last.

One may have more inner work to do to align with the goal.

I’m not saying this is easy but it’s in this space we are able to grow into the person we need to be to receive the goal.

For a technique to help get through this between time, see Manifesting Blah: Feeling Can Help.

Introspection – Clothes Make the Career Mindset

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A well organized closet is a double-edged sword.  – Elizabeth

I’ve had a lifelong love-hate relationship with closets.  

When I was very young I had to share a very small closet with a sibling.  Because it really was too small to be functional a lot of stuff ended up getting shoved under beds in the room we shared.  

More than a feng shui no-no it was a great way to lose small items like socks.

In my early teens I had a closet that was bare.

And I mean bare.  Not better times in life.

In that case I pushed everything to one side and kept the sliding door closed over the other so it didn’t seem quite as empty.

In high school it became a place to put not only clothes but posters and other visual aids that inspired creativity.

Paving the way for my novels to become reality.

Closet Normal.  

Once I was fully entrenched in corporate my closet found itself organized for the simple fact every piece in it had a purpose.

Since many suits and blouses were Christmas and birthday gifts it also served as incentive to smile every time I looked inside.  

It also reminded me of a brilliant colleague – who left corporate to become a full-time writer – who advised me on dressing for the job I wanted not the one I had. 

 Thank you MT!

Tweaks Thanks to Advice from Mom.  

I’d just moved back to the Midwest from Silicon Valley, my closet filled with a hodge podge of Caliornia stuff alongside suits.

Messy – like my state of mind at that point.

My mom told me of a TV show on which a guest who was a professional organizer explained that most people wear 20% of their outfits 80% of the time.  Armed with that I did the first major wardrobe purge of my life.

I’d always donated what I outgrew or no longer needed but taking a hard look at what I truly wore was something I hadn’t done before.

Career Identity – The Clothing Evolution

Life in Silicon Valley – corporate clothing wise – was always more casual than the Midwest.

My first day of work in Santa Clara I ran into a sales guy in shorts, tank top, flip flops and sunglasses.  When I asked if he was on vacation he laughed and explained he was on his way to Intel and that his attire was not only right it was what he would see at his customer as well.

Rather than get rid of perfectly good suits I swapped out the skirts and pants for jeans.  

Colleagues would often say “You can take the girl out of the Midwest…” in response to my formal attire.

Career Identity Trouble Brews

Though I left corporate to pursue writing full-time I kept all the beautiful suits.  Unfortunately, wearing them to work on a novel didn’t feel right.

Or comfortable.

Wearing jeans and a t-shirt, however, felt too casual and stymied my creativity.

I didn’t feel like I was working.

About a year and a half later I decided to donate my suits.

I wasn’t wearing them and seeing them in the closet was keeping me stuck between my old career and my new one.

Career Identity Trouble Intensifies.

This was the beginning of a years long wrestle with my career wardrobe as every time I looked in my closet I felt confused.

And inadequate.

No Goldilocks In Sight.

I vascillated between overly formal which killed my ability to be creative…

Stemming no doubt from being physically uncomfortable/feeling physically confined.

And feeling like a bum because I was dressed so casually…

Inhibiting my ability to take my writing career as seriously as I had my corporate one.

Changes Outside Inside

Aaron supported me as I tried multiple versions of wardrobe pieces, taking effort to explain that in the time since I left corporate, things had become even more casual in terms of work wardrobe.

What I remembered from when I was there was no longer en Vogue.

For all his support, my psyche was still caught in conflict.

Too formal V. Too casual.

Irony

Perhaps the biggest irony is this now being an issue for thousands thanks to the Work From Home wave brought on by the pandemic.

Changes Inside Outside

The Closet Speaks

I’ve come to see recently that my closet was always a reflection of where I was along life’s path.  In terms of my career I have been successful in having what I needed but only this weekend past did I see that I have what I wanted, a wardrobe that reflects who I am – career-wise. Specifically, I came to see my casual work wardrobe has evolved as I have.

Career wise.

Over the past 2 or so years I’ve worked in pajamas, jeans, and t-shirts associated with the various series.

I’ve also put on more formal tops if the Muse moved me.

Though I understand the more comfortable I am the more likely the words will flow, it’s how I see myself as the writer that should drive what I wear.

It’s Attitude not Clothes!

There was a time when wearing pajamas and working on the couch got me down because I felt I shouldn’t do it.  It didn’t matter that I was highly prolific.  My mind was stuck back in corporate thinking What would people think if they saw me?

Slacker anyone?

Over recent months as I’ve made changes on my website and to my project calendar I have further tweaked my wardrobe to better reflect the changes that were every bit as internal as external. 

The Weekend Breakthrough.

This weekend past I spent time in a closet that was already cleaned and organized to see what if anything was tied to the old writer me.  I then took any items I felt fit that bill and put them into a donate bag.  

The idea being let go of what no longer serves.

Though I know that I, like my career, am still evolving, at least I will be journeying with less baggage.

Fewer items holding me in a place I have not been in a long time.

Interestingly, the most important work was done before I went through the closet.

Internally.

I needed to come to peace with who I have become in the years since leaving corporate long before thinning the wardrobe.

Be well and journey light!

END OF YEAR TRADITIONS

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I wanted to take a moment this holiday week and let everyone know how thankful I am for my readers.

And visitors to this site!

I am also thankful not only to my team but to all of those at WordPress, Smashwords, and other organizations who make this all possible.

I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving week.  

Update

I will be offline for a bit.

Though I may be inspired to write a post.

I continue to work on projects but will be using the coming weeks to do a bit of introspection and self-evaluation.

This end-of-year tradition is a significant part of career planning.  

After a hectic 13 months I consider this a well-deserved and much needed break.

I will post and/or provide updates as appropriate but for now…

Happy Holidays 2022!

MORE THAN A HERO’S JOURNEY: BRINGING A STORY TO LIFE

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I’ve been sitting here contemplating the Port Gallatan Series from a few different angles including a stubborn refusal to let what was Hollow Shelter go without a fight.

The premise is just too good in my opinion.  It’s also close to my heart.

That isn’t to say in its current form it would fit the series and while I originally floated the idea – to myself – of reworking it so that it did fit the series, I decided it was probably too much work given everything else going on.  So, I let it go.

Or so I thought.

I was sitting here, minding my own business (pun intended) when a niggle of an idea for a reworked story came knocking on my consciousness. 

 I tend to pay attention to these as even if a new book doesn’t come from them I usually get information that is of benefit.  

Tune Out to Tune In.

For me, the best way to let something from the unconscious percolate to the top is to play Free Cell. The mindless repetition lulls – or perhaps bores is a better word – my mind to a daydream state whereby unconscious thoughts can be seen in the mind’s eye

Scenes

And heard

Characters

Within a short time I had a great way to totally revamp that story for a future Gallatan book.

It will have a different title by then.

Satisfied I was ready to go back to Blue Skye in the Rain when another random thought popped into my head.

The unconscious wasn’t done talking apparently.

The Hero’s Journey.

That was it.  That simple phrase.  However, it was accompanied by images of a newspaper article I once read that was about a movie.  In it the critic mentioned the movie being a “typical” hero’s journey along the lines of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.

I’m thinking that writer didn’t enjoy either movie.

The writer in me tensed up.  By suggesting there is nothing more to a story than labeling it as falling into one of the 7 basic plots one risks sounding like a high school teacher trying to convince bored students the classic they are reading will change their life forever.

Oh, it may, but not always and not necessarily in a way that can be predicted.

When it comes to a novel, classifying it in such limiting terms not only denies the reader the oppoturnity to discover the adventure in the characters, setting, and subplots that make a novel entertaining, it diminishes the role of the writer in the story.  I, for one, do not think, “Hm, which of the basic plots does this fall into?” when I start a story.

Port Gallatan.

As with the Okcracoke Awakening Series, the first choice I made before the initial book was even fully formed was the setting.

I love the Carolinas for their rich history and love the peaceful Outer Banks Islands off their shores.

For the fictitious Pacific Northwest Port town I created something completely fabricated that was inspired by a number of ports I’d visited.

Combined with various East Coast towns throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Though a reader may classify the storyline in such a way as to match one of the infamous plots I promise none of that was going through my mind when I came up with the idea.

I was sitting at a local haunt I went to (pre-pandemic) to have coffee and work when I came up with part of the story.  A lunch in a neighboring town weeks later gave me the other piece of the light-hearted plot.

To me, oversimplifying an aspect of a fiction work is cheating reader and writer both.  Far better, me thinks, to take the plunge into the adventure.

Now, back to my story.  (Grin)

WRITING A SERIES: MANIFESTING THE VISION

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Note: Excerpt at end of post.

Though I don’t have a release date I am well on my way with Blue Skye In the Rain, follow-up to Port In a Storm.

Thanks to work done prior to the pandemic.  

Working on material for the Port Gallatan series has been fun.  It’s also been challenging in that keeping the original vision through the twists and turns of the last 5 years has been a bit daunting.  In no specific order, here are a few of the challenges

Working Title.  Just prior to moving to the current location I mentioned to a casual if somewhat regular acquaintance that I was working on a novel with the working title Blue Skye.  I gave him a brief synopsis and he replied with a smile and a promise to periodically check in to see how things were coming along on the story.  

That was 3 years ago!

Shortly after moving I started the story, then set it aside.

This is typical when I’m finishing one book but want to keep up momentum for the next project.

Off Course.  We’d barely finished unpacking when we were staring down the chaos of a pandemic lockdown and while this turned into one of the more prolific periods of my writing career, it steered me far away from the vision I had for the series.

Switched Gears.  Toward the end of 2021 I turned my focus to a number of nonfiction projects.

Eventually, it was time to swing back around to the story.  And yet…

Which One?

When I plan a series I generally have a good idea how many novels will be in its borders.  Unfortunately, with the Port Gallatan work, I had three different novels that could have followed Port In a Storm.  What I didn’t realize initially is that not all of them were suited to the vision I had for the series.

I was so ready to get back to fiction writing I overlooked that little detail.

I was well down the path of Hollow Shelter when it hit me.

This isn’t going to work!

Dropping the book I took time to regroup.

Figure out where I went off the path.

The process took longer than I anticipated and was filled with a great deal of angst as I tried to figure out where I went wrong and what the best path forward might be.

And which book I should work on next!

Thinking it might be helpful to step away for awhile, I considered doing the next Dragon Core book.

Eventually decided against it.

I considered reworking Hollow Shelter – even started to – then realized that wasn’t the best one for next in the series.  

Finally, I determined Blue Skye was the best one, not the least reason of which is that it beautifully sets up for the next 2 in the series.

It’s also based on a comedic theme, something I think everyone can use these days.

Trouble was, Blue Skye was only a place holder title, what those in the industry call a working title.  Sure enough, I spent several days struggling to come up with an alternate.  Unfortunately, there was a plot device that went with Blue Skye and I knew if I switched out the title I would lose that.

That plot device is a big part of the story.

Aaron and I were out driving recently and I began talking through the challenge of the working title.  Without even thinking, I added “In the rain.”  When I mentioned it being a follow on to Port In a Storm, I smiled.  I had my tie-in!

Details like that are very important to me!

Inertia from being away from fiction had set in.

Little details like working titles don’t get the novel written.

I spent yesterday building out the setup for the story, managing to get in some write time.  

Stuff like organizing files and directories, building a playlist that suits the story.

After a good night’s sleep I am back at it.

Release date will be announced in the coming months.

The following is an excerpt from the upcoming book.

PROLOGUE

Construction Site, Montana

Spring, 2021

“Blue Skye In the Rain?  What kind of a name is that for a business?”

Knowing it would irritate his father, twenty-eight-year-old Ryan Skye took a moment before replying to lean over so he could use his t-shirt to wipe his sweaty forehead.  Oh, and count to ten.  Twice. 

Standing slowly he noted a number of the crew – those not used to the periodic and somewhat regular squabbles between father and son – had stopped what they were doing to watch.  Lips in a half-smile half-smirk, he looked into the eyes of the man who taught him everything he knew about running a business through good times and bad, who taught him to be independent, whose wife his mother encouraged him to follow his dreams.  Shrugging, he replied,  “Guess you’ll just have to come out and see for yourself.”  

Ignoring the snickers of nearby crew- and his father’s look of disgust – he hefted a bag of mix and made for the cement truck. 

CJAPTER ONE

Port Gallatan

Summer, 2021

The tiny town of Port Gallatan – a town some say is at the edge of nowhere – has had an identity crisis of one sort or another since being founded by eccentric French Noble Jamet Gallatan.  In search of privacy he made sure the small hamlet on the water earned a reputation for being unfriendly to strangers, including those just passing through.  But like the human desire to direct destiny, progress cannot be controlled and soon, others in search of freedom to pursue dreams joined the reclusive Frenchman.  

Those who settled in the small village, who knew Jamet, respected his right to seclusion, opined he should have known that in settling on a port he would be part of the progress he claimed to eschew.  And so it was that the small town, like the fledgling country it was a part of, grew.

For a period following the US industrial revolution, there was belief the town – thanks to the new railroad being built in the West – would grow.  Thrive even.  Speculators from near and far flocked to the tiny port village to lay claim to a piece of history and for a time Port Gallatan burst at the seams.  But it was not to be.  The railway bypassed the little village by the water, sealing its fate as a small town caught between progress and stagnation.  

MANIFESTING: A LOT HAS TO HAPPEN

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It’s been a busy two weeks as I’ve cleared out the old to make way for the new.

All part of the process of manifesting a goal.

As I was getting ready for bed last night I came to understand that some goals take longer than expected because a lot has to happen first.

For instance

In a previous post I wrote of being 13 and thinking while watching a movie that it would be cool to live in a certain type of house in a certain type of neighborhood featured in the movie.  At the time my family was in no position to achieve it and in any case, my vision wasn’t that of my parents.  Needless to say, a lot had to happen between then and now for me to attain that goal.

I lived in a lot of places between then and now and went through a number of life changes along the path to the goal.

It’s no different when looking to achieve a career goal.

For example

There came a time where I decided I wanted to be a technical consultant.  In spite of having taken programming in college and using a computer since I was a teen, I didn’t have the skills when I made the decision.

A lot had to happen.

I spent the next years immersed in classes and activities that filled in skill gaps.

A Wrench

Though an agreement had been in place at my place of employment that once I met a set of criteria I would be promoted, when I met the requirements, the company was in a downturn and there was no headcount.

The Universe Steps In

On the other side of the world

Germany, to be exact

A woman fell in love with a US citizen who happened to be working for the same company I was.  They decided whoever got a job in the other’s country first would move.  As it turned out the American who was a TC in Silicon Valley was the one to make the move.  

Lucky me.

There is a great deal of kismet to this manifestation but suffice it to say that the Universe had bigger plans for me.  Instead of getting a promotion where I worked – one that didn’t come with a raise – I got a bigger promotion and a significant raise.

And a cost of living adjustment.

Pivot

I eventually left corporate to focus on a lifelong goal of being a novelist.

Another Wrench

Thanks to an interesting set of circumstances, I ended up publishing nonfiction first.

The Universe Steps In

In the years since publishing Riding the Waves: Diagnosing, Treating, and Living with EMF Sensitivity, I’ve experienced a number of life changing events, each of which has nudged me – by hook or by crook – along the path of my career goals.  What I’ve come to see in recent weeks is that the path is not only long it’s often like a switchback trail where you sometimes wonder if you’re even going in the right direction let alone have a hope in hell of getting where you are headed.

There is a beautiful 11 mile trail in Sedona that left Aaron and I both wondering this at times.

I think he has video of me with needles from a friendly prickly pear sticking out of my shirt in several places from when I took a wrong turn and got off the path.

Path To a Series

Port Gallatan has simultaneously been fun and infuriating as I’ve tried to build out my vision for the series.

Other work and life in general kept throwing wrenches.

The Universe Steps In

I was so busy working at the macro level of the career goals I didn’t notice that the actions I was taking were in fact clearing a number of obstacles from the Port Gallatan path!

I am happy to say Blue Skye in the Rain, follow-up to Port In a Storm is well on its way to completion.

Availability date to be announced soon.

I’ll take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Holloween!

Closing with a joke I read in an email this morning.

What did Dracula say when the witch and the werewolf started kissing?

Get a broom!

Be well!

MANIFESTING: LET THE DUST SETTLE

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The previous two weeks have been Feng Shui on steroids as I cleared out the old to make way for the new and boy did I feel it!

I was removing colorful candles set on a mirror and got  an energetic shock.  Highly unpleasant.

The process was a bit like pulling the thread on a sweater and while I had a super hero friend advise that I may not want to pull on that thread, I knew delaying it wasn’t going to make it any easier.

Sometimes it’s better to rip the band-aid off quickly than slowly peeling that adhesive.

Though I’ve had lots of experience with the benefits of clearing and organizing I was surprised to find that sometimes things doing the most damage are not in plain sight!  Deciding to leave no stone unturned in my efforts to realize a special goal, I rifled through drawers and opened cabinets, separating into a toss or donate pile.  The process took a few days and the evening of the day where the troublesome objects hidden from sight were gone – mostly in the trash – I felt wonderful.

As if the weight of the world had been lifted.

The next day Aaron and I took everything in the trunk to the donate location and went to a local trash and recycle center to get rid of the rest.  Strangely enough though I felt wonderful on an intellectual level, I no longer had that awesome feeling physically.

It wasn’t regrets, it was the fact that I’d basically yanked the energetic tablecloth off and things had to settle, and yes, some of the stuff went crashing to the floor.  But it had to.

Letting Go.

I’ve never been much for sentimentality.

Probably comes from having lived with a pack rat of a father and/or listening to various  relatives lament “But I might use/need it some day!”

It also comes from being raised in a family, faith, and community that was big on supporting those less fortunate.

We would sponsor a family and buy them either a Thanskgiving or Christmas dinner.  My brother and I went with our parents to deliver so we could understand the love and value of giving.

It isn’t always objects that need to be let go of.  There are times when we outgrow a location, a relationship, a job, or any other number of energetically impactful situations and while some are easier to let go of than others, most of us don’t take the time after to let the energetic dust settle.

We may freak out at the empty shelves or drawers or cupboards and buy more “stuff” to fill them.

In my current situation since it’s a career goal I’m working toward I needed to see where in that area I needed to let go.

Some future projects were axed.

What I found very telling was that I didn’t feel the slightest bit of panic in taking actions that backed up the intention of realizing the goal.

It’s important to clear out what no longer serves to make space for what you wish to come in.

I also didn’t feel an energetic high.  It was more a solid inner conviction that I’d done the right thing.

A Funny Thing.

Interestingly, I discovered that just as with those items hidden from sight there were career related items and situations that had become a dark cloud over my life – and I didn’t even know it until they were gone.

This includes files not only on the computer but in various backup locations!

I spent a good deal of yesterday deleting old files.

Space Freed Up!

Though I’m not one to go looking for stuff to fill empty shelves, I do have a tendency to jump into the next project as soon as one is finished.

Which is how I got so burned out to begin with.

Recognizing the need to let the energetic dust settle I considered where else dark clouds may be lurking out of sight.  

Next Stop?  Kindle!

I generally keep my Kindle library pretty lean and mean with majority of the ebooks in there fiction rereads from my favorite authors.  However, sprinkled in were a few books on various aspects of manifesting and/or otherwise improving your life and while these books are generally upbeat something told me it was time to let them go.  The only ones I raised my eyebrows with were purchases made very recently.

As in “I just got these!”

In one case I hadn’t even finished the book!

And I was enjoying it!

At the same time, I felt as if God was whispering the words “Trust me” into my soul so I went ahead and let go.

Deciding it wouldn’t hurt to add a few more read-for-pure-pleasure books into my library I went to Amazon and while I did find a couple of rereads to add to my collection, I also found an intriguing book along the same subject of the ones I’d just deleted.  I downloaded a sample.

I hadn’t even read four pages when I knew I needed to read the entire book.  What jumped out was the author pointing out that before we can manifest goals, we need to let go of what may be hindering our efforts.

Exactly what I’ve been working on for the previous 2 weeks!

After reading a few more pages this morning I was convinced following that guidance was the right thing. 

But Wait!  There’s More!

While I don’t see meaning in every shooting star I do acknowledge the beautiful synchronicities the Universe puts in my path.  More, I acknowledge them and thank God and his angels, including earth angels, for reminding me I’m not alone in my efforts.  This time was no different.

What stood out was that the author’s words mirrored my thoughts and the material came just when I needed it.  

Acknowledging the good fortune of finding a book that would help me in this stage of the journey toward realizing my goal I went to my desk and started working.  Content the day would unfold as it needed to I didn’t immediately start a specific task.

Such as a blog post I knew I would eventually write – when the time was right and I had my thoughts collected.

No sooner had I made that decision – to remain relaxed and wait for the words – when I found myself looking at an article that addressed something that has been on my mind in tandem with my efforts.  My immediate thought?  Of course.

Because I acknowledged the gift of the book, I was given another gift and upon sending a quick thank you and reading through that gift [article] I got insight into why I was advised to let go of those other books on the same subject.

Now Hear This!  

As a clairaudient who is also a clairsentient I sometimes have trouble figuring which came first, hearing something or knowing/feeling it.  What I do know is that the answer came in both forms fairly simultaneously.

“That author was overly complicating things.”

That was the first message.  When I thought on it a bit I nodded and acknowledged the insight after which I heard, “And besides, you’ve been doing just fine doing the inner work your way.”

It was then pointed out that I’d been studying the subject for decades.

Going all the way back to when I would ask nuns and priests about praying and asking for help for material goods.

The more I thought about the two revelations the more it made sense.  There was nothing wrong with those other books.  They were just overly complicating what is actually a pretty straight-forward process.

Perhaps more important, however, was acknowledging my own skill in this area.

Reading the step-by-step instructions wouldn’t be a good use of time for someone who could teach a class on it.

If that makes a few readers raise their eyebrows as in “If you could teach it why do you need to …?”

Everyone including teachers have lessons in life to learn.

The book I purchased last night is written in a way that speaks to me at this stage of my life and for that I am grateful it came into my sphere of awareness.  

As for everything else I’ve been doing.  I have a few tasks left in terms of letting go but of more value is the knowledge and acceptance that I need to let the energetic dust settle before moving forward.

As I’ve been writing – when it comes to manifesting dreams, it’s a process.

Be well!

MANIFESTING: SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY

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Note: Longer post.

Deciding on a goal to manifest really can be a bit of a chicken or the egg” proposition.  That’s because sometimes a need drives the decision to make a change and you may not have realized on a conscious level the need existed.

Your higher conscious knows something has to change but it may take awhile to get from your heart to your head.

Several months ago I wrote about setting a few career goals   Turns out the path I set myself on to realizing those goals is nothing like what I imagined.

Little did I know what I was in for.

Having manifested a number of goals throughout my adult life I set down the path with some pre-conceived ideas of how to go about things.  This included visualization, and writing down what it was I wanted.

Ala Write It Down, Make It Happen and It Works style.

I have come to see the benefit of the first is learning there is no wrong way to go about writing your goals.  The benefit of the second is that frequently looking at a list of goals helps you stay focused on tasks in support of the goals.  

Turns out I had a lot of inner work to do before I could get where I was headed.  The changes and tweaks I made along the path of that inner work was not only exhausting, it was confusing.

When you are in the midst of turning the boat around and waves are coming over the side from the storm it can feel like you are making no progress except heading for a shipwreck.

More than once I felt despair because of the chaos in my life; chaos I felt was keeping me from working toward my goal.

The chaos had nothing to do with my career goals!

It was only in recent weeks that I came to see the chaos was part of the process.  It forced me to address various issues that would have come back to cause problems if not addressed up front.

In other words, if I didn’t address the situation ahead of time it would stand in the way of my attaining and/or maintaining goal success.

How Did I Get Here?

It was as I was putting the final touches on a few projects related to the goal that I came to see a number of seeming coincidences led to the clearing of several impediments.  I believe the coincidences came because I put sincere intent into the goal and the universe noticed.

I was at a point where I felt as if I’d been dragged through the mud but rather than throw my hands up I doubled down and looked for a way forward, finding it in a very cool book.

Royce’s book was a shot of optimism and helped me reframe the previous months’ chaos as part of the process.  Feeling better I reached out to a wise friend across the country and in so doing set the stage for the next part of the journey.

I was just wishing her a happy birthday but the subsequent back and forth led to several mini victories.

As a result of several email exchanges I looked at my life through a variety of lenses and saw that a few things needed tweaking.  As these tweaks had nothing to do with my career goals I didn’t put it together they, too, were part of the process.  Until…

Making the feng shui tweaks – originally set to address the non-career goal issues that needed addressing – led to my seeing where I’d gone wrong with the tweaks in the career area.  Next thing I know I’ve made a series of sweeping changes that showed me the path to the career goals includes taking care of business as my dad is wont to say in every area that needs to be healthy in order to support the career goals.

Physical, mental, and emotional well-being among others.

What really stood out in the previous few days was how little angst there was with the changes I needed to make.  I think my head finally caught up to the truth that if I allow my heart to lead I’ll get down the path with a lot fewer bumps.

A Thumbs Up

From the universe.

This morning I started a new routine to start off this new phase of the journey and though I felt confident, I also felt a bit worn out.

I’ve done an incredible amount of mental and emotional housecleaning in the past two weeks.

Barista Boo Boo

As if in a show of universal support for my commitment, an error at the local Starbucks netted me two extra dopios.  Accepting the gift I continued down the path of manifesting, smiling because even chaos can be a happy surprise that marks progress.  You just have to let yourself see it that way.

Be well!

MANIFESTING: INERTIA DOESN’T FACTOR

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Well, that’s the last time I give myself the weekend off.  Espresso and a number of playlists were slow to help me get going this morning.

Beyond slow.  It was painful.

As I was listening to Dio’s Holy Diver I put a name to the problem and in doing so found my writing rhythm.

Intertia.

Newton’s  1st Law of Motion.

An object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

Music’s unbalanced?

While I considered the effort I had to exert to overcome this morning’s inertia it occurred to me that when it comes to manifesting, inertia doesn’t factor in.

I came to this conclusion after reviewing a number of manifesting successes and seeing that in many cases, after putting out the initial desire, I did nothing – consciously – to create the success.

Yet I was successful.

2 examples to illustrate.

Some 20 years ago I was walking through a model home in a new subdivision in Ohio.  I knew that eventually I wanted to own a home but at that point I was in no position to do so.  A friend encourged me to look so I could get an idea what I may want in that future home.

Setting me up for visualization, something I wasn’t big on at that time.

Of all the features the one I was most intrigued by was a type of fireplace.  Contemporary in design I remember falling in love with it and thinking “Wow, that would be cool to have in a house…”

That was it.  I didn’t do anything to bring that feature to be in any place I’ve lived.  And yet for all that nonwork I can glance across the room and see that very style of fireplace.

I enjoy the contemporary style as much now as I would have had I had it years earlier.

Example 2.

Ideal Scene

A couple of years after touring the model home I found myself flipping through Shakti Gawain’s Creative Visualization Workbook at a Borders Bookstore.

All these years later and I’ve never found a bookstore like Borders.

Deciding to give it a go I chose 2 goals and went to work.  Though I used most of the techniques for manifesting a writing career, I used the Ideal Scene exercise to outline my ideal relationship.

I was very careful to follow the guidelines which advised to be specific but cautioned against being too specific, as in don’t limit to a brunette with green eyes since the ideal person may be a red-head with blue eyes.  

You get the idea.

I then did what the author suggested and put the workbook away.  Well, I did do one other action.

I did nothing.

I didn’t do one conscious thing to find this relationship person and I didn’t quit my day job to pursue writing full-time.  

I just went about my daily life.**

I still wanted the goals but I didn’t do anything specific to bring them about.

A little over a year later without my having done anything, I met Aaron.

And the Writing?

Though it was years before I quit my day job to pursue writing full-time, while working in tech I spent a good part of my career as a tech writer, moving on to become a technical consultant. While I was a tech writer I was surrounded by other creatives, two of whom were authors. In one case, the colleague left after getting a contract to pursue writing full-time.

Talk about good energy to feed a goal!

In neither case, nor in many others did inertia come into play.  After putting the energy out I went about my life as usual.  I did not do any specific thing to bring about either goal and yet got both.

The key? 

Apparently desire is an unbalanced force because that’s pretty much what did it.  

Of course an argument could be made that I unconsciously took actions that led to this point.

  • I could have married earlier but the guys that I might have considered were at odds – for one reason or another – with my dream of being a writer full-time.

Whereas on our first date Aaron told me all the actions he would take to support me in attaining my dream.

  • I generally have a fireplace on my list of have’s when looking for places to live, whether I rent or own.

I wasn’t expecting one in San Diego since we were looking at a high rise and yet we had an electric one!

I suppose this is where trust comes in.  If you put the energy of desire out there, trust that if it’s for the greatest good of all involved, you’ll find your way to that goal.

I’ll be writing in the future about trying to manifest something you aren’t meant to have.

**A friend once asked how I found Aaron.  He was ready for his ideal mate.  I told him to put the energy out there then go about his life doing what he liked to do.  Not long after, he met the woman he married.  

Years later he told me he believes it was following my advice that did the trick. He said after getting his mind off of it he enjoyed life more and within a short time met his future wife at a wedding.

Desire.

The unbalanced force.