Breathing 101

and YESyesyes....we all breathe - in and out, breath after breath, from our very first second of this journey to our last....it is a natural process and we do it automatically, effortlessly ...... but do we do it WELL? Are we MAXIMIZING the effect of what proper breathing can do FOR us ? Yes, we are exsisting and maintaining but ... are we BREATHING optimally?
Think about it. We practise everything. We learn something new - we practise. Things that we have been doing since our formative years, (speaking, walking, running, relationship building, sports and fitness activities, creative endeavours) WE PRACTISE. Why? because we want to DO IT BETTER. By doing it better, we are growing, learning, there is a sense of accomplishment and a sense of steady growth that keeps us firmly in our foundation while we are here on this Path.
Breathing? we don't practise as much.....until now.
There are all different kinds of breathing - the 'things are melting down around me' DEEP BREATH IN WITH LOUD EXHALE - eyes glaring, nostrils flaring, usually hands over head or out to the sides.....haha!-generally precedes masses amount of action to correct 'said devastation'!! :) but there is also the fearful breathing - when we breathe little 'panting' breaths, the 'normal' breathing punctuated by moments of holding our breath? what is THAT about?! (generally we somewhat realize we are doing this when we are on the computer or working on a project or the like...), or the 'no breathing at all' really - just 'numbness breathing' of shock and/or a grief period...(knowing and REMEMBERING to focus on breath at ALL of these times helps our connection to our Self and makes EVERY situation more manageable and results more effective.)
When we are stressed/focused/apprehensive/'pushed' we breathe with little half breaths, just enough to keep everything working inside but NOT ENOUGH to keep everything FLOWING (if you catch my drift here). Yes, the heart is pumping, the blood is oxygenated, lungs are filling (kind of) and emptying (kind of) but we are only HALF breathing - we are not CONNECTED and therefore are not able to apply all of our resources within our Selves to the task and matter at hand.  We are AT BEST working at 50% capacity.
Are you ok with that?
 If you were writing an exam and your prof handed back a 50% grade....are you ok with THAT?
 If you asked your associate employees to finish a task by the end of the day and at 5pm they were merely finished HALF of it.....is THAT ok?
 if you asked your family to spend a Holiday meal  with you and cooked enough to feed an army and then only HALF of them showed up.....wow. not cool.
and so it is.
WHEN we breathe fully in through our nose right down to our toes and let it fill us and sit with it for just a moment before breathing out fully letting the shoulders, diaphragm, chest lessen and relax as every last bit is exhaled and then we relax and sit with this for just another moment and then beautifully we allow ourSelves to enjoy another deep breath in appreciating every little bit of energy and relaxation and cleansing that comes along with our ability to tune into this wonderful resource and relaxing and fulfilling process that is available to all of us....
.as we take the time to turn our attention to the IMPORTANCE of this...
.the great need we have intrinsically and energetically to ALLOW this energy to accompany our Spirit and buoy us up in times of joy and gratitude, times of despair and frustration, times of 'just floating along enjoying the moment'.... :)
Breathing properly gives our physical bodies an opportunity to connect with our emotional body and then connect with our Spiritual Self.....3 in one....mindful breathing to connect mind, body and soul.....breathe in.....yes.....breathe out.....SO good!!
Shine into your breathwork today and FEEL CONNECTED :)

What is Reiki?

I get asked this all the time :) and let me begin by saying that Reiki is one of the most well known and respected healing modalities worldwide and generally I just ASSUME that EVERYONE knows and is aware of the amazing benefit of receiving a Reiki treatment and then taking the next step and learning Reiki themselves so that they are able to do their own Self Reiki healing session and also for others.

Anyway, here it is.....the 'drop in the bucket' explanation of the very powerful healing method - Reiki

Reiki is a generic Japanese word meaning Universal Life Force Energy or spiritually guided life force energy. 

 REI - pronounced 'ray' is Japanese for universal or spiritual consciousness/wisdom (God consciousness) or a  higher dimension of light and the soul; knows the cause of all problems and what to do to heal them.

KI - pronounced 'key' is Japanese for vital life force energy that animates everything: also called Prana, Chi etc.

Reiki is healing energy which automatically goes to the area in your physical body or spirit where healing is most required. Reiki practitioners act as a conduit for Reiki Light by invoking energy through their Crown Chakra, feeling it moving down to their Heart Chakra and allowing the same healing energy to flow through their arms and out of their Palm Chakras to you, the client. Reiki energy ensures that your entire spirit is in alignment by focusing on the elimination of blocks in your physical body and chakras. Your own energy is able to now move freely through your spirit and body. Reiki is totally natural and works on all levels of your life. It can relieve pain, discomfort in the physical sense and ease grief and/or anxiety as well as lack of self confidence and insecurities. Reiki will also will provide healing energy for cancer and other sickness and disease and has been found to be a proven healing modality in many other areas as well.
For more information please feel free to contact Stacey Macdonald, Reiki Master   Reiki in Oakville

What are you going to do with YOUR grain of sand??

Grain by grain, moment by moment, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week.......ahhhhhhhhhhh! yes.....WE GET THERE!!

We CANNOT live this hourglass ahead of time. WE CAN NOT. It is impossible. We MUST flip it over and then watch....as grain by grain, minute by minute, moment by moment....etc....the minutes flip by and THEN when sufficient time has passed....it is done. We flip it over again and we watch as grain by grain, moment by moment.....well, you get my drift here.

THE TIMING IS NOT UP TO US. It really really isn't. AND it doesn't matter how much money we make (or don't make), it doesn't matter how many friends we have (or don't have) it doesn't matter what kind of house we have (or don't have) or what kind or car we drive (or hey!! don't drive!!) haha!!

THE TIMING -Divine timing - IS NOT UP TO US.

frustrating? YES. but at the same time....very levelling. and balancing. and a GREAT RELIEF in a way. This truly is NOT  a race. This truly is NOT a contest.

Our ONLY way to 'win' is to REVEL IN THE MOMENT and whatever that may bring us.  So!! what are you going to do today with YOUR grain of sand?

  I, my Self? and going to enJOY THE HECK OUT OF IT!!

Live in the NOW with me people and be the very BEST YOU you know how to be - THIS VERY MINUTE. Believe me, nothing matters more.

SHINE into this moment with me!

Can you keep a secret?

NO! I do not have a BIG SECRET to share with you today....well, not one that I haven't already shared in previous postings and who knows?? maybe I will have groundbreakinginly HUGE SECRETS to divulge tomorrow...time will tell however in the meantime....the question stands.

Well, can you? Many cannot. Actually, most CAN for the MOST PART however they DO tell one or two people....not the masses....just one or two. But what if one of THOSE people are the type that also have a secret?? and what if THAT secret is that.....they can't keep a secret??!! uh oh. 

It is a VERY special position to be in - when a friend, acquaintance, complete stranger trusts you enough to take you into their confidence, bring you into their circle and share an opinion, a tough situation, a 'monkey on their back' etc. and YES!!!! We have ALL been that person where we have been betrayed by a close friend (sometimes innocently enough but the betrayal stings just the same) after we have shared with them.

Our Angel Teams encourage us to 'be that Rock' for someone. (Notice I did not say 'be the sponge'....you don't want to 'take on' someone else's problems so that now YOU have their problems and THEY feel better ... there is a way to provide 'safe harbour' for others WITHOUT leaving your Self vulnerable to negativity and despair)

so no.....BE THE ROCK.  Someone who is drowning in the water needs a sturdy rock to climb onto - up and out of the waters of confusion and despair. BE THE ROCK. And stay 'being the Rock' for as long as you need to, as long as they need you to be. You can do it. You get a lot back by being that.   For the day might come round when you 'need a rock' ....and you know what??  There will be a 'rock' there for you too.   :)

so yes! Keep secrets for others (they are not yours to tell), keep a shoulder handy for others to lean on and walk proudly and strongly today as you offer assistance, security and confidence to any who require it.

Shine brightly!



Balance your energy...AND MANIFEST your goals!!!

There are a thousand, nay a MILLION reasons to spend more time outside.  INSIDE, there is always work to be done. People know where to FIND you. (haha!) Phones are ringing, computers are beeping and even JUST the daily static of life going on around you is sometimes completely deafening and confusing. In our quest for clarity, understanding and PEACE, calm, love, light etc......INSIDE can be very challenging and hindering in this manner.
Outside is a different story. and YES! Outside sometimes takes some work to get there (coats, hats, umbrella maybe, WHERE ARE MY SHOES/KEYS/SUNGLASSES????!!!) but it can be very worth it.
Do NOT be  an 'excuse maker'. ....too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too snowy, not enough time, will wait and go with husband/friend/kids (go AGAIN later but DO go NOW!),  I have nowhere to go, I'll go tomorrow etc.  none of that please.
and WHILE it is wonderful to walk along the forest floor with a babbling brook beside you and that should be found and cherished whenever you can....you get the same effect simply STEPPING outside and walking around the block (or a couple of blocks)  Even just taking your tea out on the balcony, closing your eyes and letting the breeze, wind, sun, rain 'breeze you off'.  !!

Right, so which benefits exactly are to be gained? Being outside has a wonderful balancing effect on our chakras, our energy centres within our body. Any negative or harsh energy that is around any (or all!!)  of our chakra points is able to be removed or at least 'watered down' when we step outside and BREATHE in our outdoor air -- feeling all of its purity fill our chakra centres and releasing any impurities that are attached to us. Our own energy/prana/chi is revitalized in this way.  (Water has a very similar effect - you know how you feel when you are 'bogged down' and then you jump in the lake, the pool, the hot tub or even just take a shower or bath - it is actually doing more than cleansing our physical bodies but also cleansing and clearing our spiritual and emotional side as well)
Outside also brings us side by side with the Nature Angels. My favourite. - they are my favourite because they are small but mighty! and they are similar to the other Angels and yet different - in that they are a wee bit 'fickle'!!! haha! and make me laugh also! It seems like an oxymoron to call an Angel fickle but they are! They will "do for you" IN ANY AND EVERY WAY as long as (this is where the fickle part comes in) you 'do for them'  :) 
How do you 'do for them'?  Spending time outside, picking up litter outside, filling up a birdfeeder, placing ANOTHER birdfeeder outside, planting and caring for your garden, someone else's garden, looking after your local park, recycling, becoming more and more environmentally AWARE and TAKING ACTION on your newfound information  (be a 'do-er! no lip service)  Even just your actionable steps each day towards your own personal environment are MORE THAN ENOUGH to catch their attention.  And you WANT to catch their attention because all of your actionable steps are like 'paying into an account' with the Nature Angels and they are more than happy to pay it back to you with interest...and they will....and they DO!!   HOW?  Well, yes the Nature Angels are part of that 'balancing the chakra exercise' also to be sure, also they circle around you PHYSICALLY and pour their good energy into any physical ailment also (picture a NASCAR driver pulling in the pit, he/she is just sitting there in the car while the pit crew goes to work switching tires, fuelling up, topping up oils, tightening this, loosening that etc.....YOU are the driver and the Nature Angels are your pit crew :)
NEVER MIND, they are also CHAMPION MANIFESTORS. NO ONE even comes close to their ability to bring whatever and whichever dream, vision, goal to fruition than them.  Work CLOSELY with them to ensure any manifestation you have 'on your books'.  and it all hinges on .... stepping outside.  :) Go ahead!! Pay into their account while you are there, see how much you can give to them and enJOY the benefits of having the Nature Angels as your 'pit crew'. Be vigilant and be consistent and prove to them that you are able to 'stay the course' with your commitment to them and reap your rewards!
Shine into Nature!

Wow! This is COMPLICATED!!! Really??!

Dogs and Cats living together!! this is absolute mayhem! "keep your hands in the car at all times" you are NOT going ANYWHERE and at the same time travelling at the speed of sound. DEFIES all reasoning....no other choice except to....

.....enjoy the ride?
okay
why not?  here's the thing, you had NO IDEA you were even going to ENTER this ride. no one gave you a ticket. you did not 'call in' at contest time. you did not purchase a seasons pass.
You have NO REASON to be here except.... that you are...here.
with all the 'stuff' that you see around you. no more, no less. with all the support staff that you see and feel around you. no more, no less.
It sometimes feels VERY complicated. IT OFTEN FEELS VERY COMPLICATED.
It's not.
You leave with the very same 'stuff' that you came with.  You only have to enJOY THE RIDE!!!
so JOY IT UP.
c'mon.
JOY IT UP. JOY IT UP!!!!!!
....
that's more like it :) I can see (and FEEL!) you smiling!!! keep it up! and SHINE that out there!!! :) It REALLY is that simple people.
you feel JOY and you SHINE that JOY out to others.....THAT IS THE POINT!! THAT IS "THE WHY!!"   :)
so good. Thanks for shining.  

The Five Spiritual Principles of Reiki

Just for today...I will not get angry

Just for today...I will not worry

Just for today...I will earn a living honestly and decently        

Just for today...I will be grateful

Just for today...I will show love and respect for every form of life

Contact Stacey MacDonald, Reiki Master for Reiki Training in Ontario