A Little Reminder...

Not sure when I wrote about this first go 'round, but it doesn't really matter. I feel the urge to remind you AND meself about the words we choose to use. It seems to be coming up a lot lately; folks who say things like "Man, I'm old!" or "I am so tired." or "I am sick of...." What they may not realize is that whatever follows "I am..." is precisely what is becoming. It is a non-stop ticket to THAT. Whatever "that" may be.

This isn't just some fuufuu nonsense I'm talking here. Words are sound. Sound is energy. Energy is circular. These are facts, not LaLa bullshit. The saying "what goes 'round comes 'round" is pretty much the same as what some folks like to call Karma. Whatever you put out, comes back. I've been known to call it the The Boomerang Effect.

I know these things to be true (for me) because I have experimented with them, over and over and over again. AND, just because you don't believe it, does not make it false. Belief certainly makes a thing more powerful, but not believing doesn't make it not so.

The point here is this: YOUR WORDS ARE YOUR WAND. You don't have to believe me. You can do your own little experiments. You can focus on what you're saying and see if those words don't bring a "thing" to manifest. Haven't you ever noticed when you get all excited about something and then, in short order, that something starts showing up all over the place? You start looking for that "thing". You're excited (energy). You're talking about it incessantly (more energy). You can't stop thinking about it (even more energy). Pretty soon..."it" shows up.

You say something like, "It was pure magick!"

You are absolutely correct.

So I'll say it again:

Your. Words. Are. Your. Wand.

If you want to BE old, keep saying it aloud.

I am old.

If you wish to be well, say that.

I am well.

It won't be long before your body agrees.

If you think it doesn't matter, that, too, is your choice.

Just because you don't believe it does not mean it isn't true.

Your words are your wand.
Choose them wisely (AND KINDLY!)

The End.

Gather Your Treasures

On those days,
the ones when you are struggling to feel your Magick,
gather your treasures...and

BREATHE.

Let the rest take care of

ITSELF.

sometimes...we forget.

There are moments when we forget. Maybe it's because we're not consistent. Or maybe it's our nature. As Humans. We get all kinds of sidetracked and forget that we aren't really "humans". We forget that we're on a glorious adventure, one that we chose to take, and that in a minute we'll be gone from these vessels and return to our rightful place among the stars. Some of us try so hard to be stars, we completely forget we are. We are the stuff of stars and nothing will change that.

But, sometimes, we forget.

In those moments of temporary lapse, it is a good idea to take a second or five and get grounded. Literally. Like, go stand outside with your bare feet in the grass or the dirt or the sand, and feel the pulse of Mother's heartbeat. Feel her energy surge up into your toes, your feet, through your legs, up into your torso and outward to your arms, hands, fingers, right on up to the top of your pretty head. Then...feel it flow up and out and back to the sky. Let the flow of that marvelous energy make your whole being tingle whilst you breathe.

Slowly.
Happily.
Gratefully.

Breathe.

Because, when we forget what we are, we get lost in the madness of a world gone mad. We lose our sense of Oneness. We think ourselves too puny to matter. We fall and bleed and cry and hold our heads in our hands and wonder why, oh why, did we ever think this was a good idea. We curse the gods and, worse, ourselves. We strain to find a stitch of hope when it seems there is none to be found. We kick and scream and think horrible thoughts, all in the name of being "human".

But we are not.

Sometimes, in the smallest moments, when we least expect it, a miracle happens. The miracle of a memory. The truth of who and what we are. We remember misty images of magic we witnessed. Magic made real by our own connection to that Loving Source. The magic that turns straw into gold and broken lives into lives of meaning and purpose and power beyond our understanding. We get that lightning flash of awareness in a hot second and when it has passed, we laugh as only a madman can laugh. Because....it is our magic. Our doing. Our relentless tenacity and trust in something so much More.

Because...we are more.

So, the next time you forget, and feel the weight of your puny human-ness, before you lose your mind and your heart and your will, just take a second. Or five.

And
BREATHE.

Then...go eat some ice cream.

it's all !S-D-R-A-W-K-C-A-B

{Confused? (the word is written backwards...get it?) Lemme tell ya...I had to really focus to do that without first writing it down. Good brain exercise. Try it. Quite a fun challenge.}

Moving on...

Let's just say that maybe things aren't exactly as you'd like them to be at the moment. Let's say it's about your cash flow. Or that person in your life. (or the lack thereof). Maybe it's about your job. (or the lack thereof). Or the way your body looks or how your kids are acting or that pain-in-the-butt neighbor who insists on cranking up the chainsaw at 7 a.m. every Sunday morning. Whatever "it" is, you think it's the reason you're not happy.

So then you say to yourself, "As soon as I get that handled, I'll be happy. Just gotta get that handled."

And you push and shove, push and shove, push and shove, trying to get it handled.

To no avail.

The more you push and shove, the bigger it gets. The more it pushes and shoves back. The more you try. The bigger it gets. Back and forth. On and on. Until you think you're never going to get to "happy".

But what if we've got it backwards? Bear with me now...

What if...we were to get happy first? What if, every time that annoying 'whatever' popped up, we were to say to ourselves, "STOP! JUST STOP! I'll think about that later. Right now I'm going to think about something that already makes me happy."

What if?

I'm posing this (for the millionth time) because I've been practicing a LOT lately. And I can assure you...it does take practice. It's not something we're trained to do. Mostly we've been trained to attack our "problems" head on and work it out. Did you see that word? WORK. Isn't work something that requires great effort? Isn't work something that most of us are averse to? Isn't work what we must do in order to get to play? How many times have you said, "THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!" The majority spend their whole lives waiting for Friday to get here. And Mondays get the bad rap. You know what I'm talking about, yes?

Practicing your mental train (of thought) takes a little time. But not as long as you might think. If you were to plant that seed of "STOP!" in your brain right now, and then listen for it...listen and feel your way to another train of thought...you'd be amazed at how much things change. I am NOT kidding. It goes something like this:

{Scenario #1}

The Bonehead that's always pissing you off walks into the room and begins his usual asinine behavior. Maybe he goes over to the microwave and puts his stinkin' sandwich directly on the platter (instead of being sanitary and considerate to the others, and placing it on a paper napkin or some such). He always puts cheese in those stinkin' sandwiches, which, of course, melts onto the platter. He never, ever cleans up after himself. Leaves the melted cheese on the platter and gets busy on his stinkin' sandwich. You've asked the Bonehead to stop doing this at least a hundred times. He continues to ignore you and everyone else, and puts his stinkin' sandwich on the platter. You can feel your blood pressure rising. You want to go over and slap the crap outta him. Instead, you allow yourself to seethe while the microwave heats his stinkin' sandwich. You're thinking you could just as easily heat that stinkin' sandwich with your hot thoughts right now. Seething hot thoughts.
It takes you an hour and a half to forget about it and get back to whatever you were doing. But next time you see the Bonehead, it all comes rushing back.

Round and round and round you go.

{Scenario #2}

Here comes the Bonehead. He's got another stinkin' sandwich; meatballs and mozzarella cheese. You just know that stinkin' sandwich is going to make the biggest mess ever. But instead of going all bonkers on yourself, you say "STOP!"...and then you turn your attention to the beautiful dinner you had with your best friend last night. Or the way your dog goes crazy when he sees you coming. Or how that really nice lady at the grocery store packed your groceries without crushing your bread. You remember that time you went to the coast for the weekend and spent days relaxing with nary a care in the world. You touch the necklace around your neck; the one you got from your mom when you graduated. You close your eyes for just a few seconds and take yourself elsewhere; you take yourself to some 'happy' place where there aren't any Boneheads.

Your breathing stays normal. Your blood pressure is right where you like it to be. Your body temperature remains at a steady 98.6. You have effectively taken yourself to another place and/or time where everything is as right as rain. Big, happy sighs ensue.

Feel the difference?

Whether it's about the Bonehead at work, the noisy neighbor, those size 7 jeans you want to get back into, or the person you'd like to have come into your life...FIRST you get happy. THEN all that other stuff comes flowing in like you were born with a magic wand and the power to make anything happen with the wave of a hand.

What if?

{REMEMBER: Joy is a CHOICE.}

it's supposed to be FUN!

So...a short while ago I had to get me-self a new computer. Much as I resisted, it was obvious I had little choice. Either pay a stupid amount to fix the old one (which was about 4 years old) OR get a new one. The tech person thought I'd lost my mind when I told him I wanted the old one fixed. He said, "It's really not worth it. You can get a brand new one with all kinds of upgrades for less than the cost of repairs. Think about it before you make a decision. I'd really hate for you to spend the money and then have the whole thing blow up in 3 months."

To be honest, I was a bit surprised. I mean, the guy was basically blowing off his potential income in his attempt to do right by me. Cool guy. Anyway, I did, in the end, get a new computer. My initial aversion was that I didn't want to have to go to a new operating system. I was comfortable with the old XP version and had negative chatter thing going on about Microsoft's bombardment. I was simply resistant to change. ME! Of all people! GEEZ.

As it turns out, this new OS is AWESOME! Windows 7 is even easier to use than XP was. AND the computer has a gazillion times more space, speed and built-in safe-guards; things my other computer didn't have. It didn't take long for me to get dialed in...and once I did, I was thrilled to have made the choice. Funny how that works, huh?

But I'm not telling you all this for nothing. This started out because in the last couple of days I've found a few new 'toys' that are so cool...and easy to use, that I've been having BIG FUN making these little videos. And, as I'm so fond of saying, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! Every guru on the planet will tell you this. We are here to enjoy our lives; not struggle or pay for 'past lives' stuff. Or to suffer or sacrifice. No sireeee. We're here to experience exquisite JOY. Whatever that means to each of us respectively. And it's so obvious that those who live well, who live healthy, happy lives, are the ones who DO WHAT THEY LOVE. And so....

I made another little video for ya. This one also includes one of my very favorite tunes by the beautiful Dan Fogelberg. I had so much fun making this, I just had to put it up here. It is, of course, on YouTube...along with the others I've made in the past week. It's a little reminder to those who may have forgotten...

MAGICK HAPPENS!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did (making it).
Hugs and Magick to YOU~~~

do you believe in magick?

There is a splendid woman whose name is Jenny Mannion. I had the great fortune of meeting her about 3 years ago, when this wild ride first began. She'd seen something I wrote, contacted me, and we began our 'connection'. Now, she's doing what gives her life great meaning: she is a healer who works in several different modalities, helping people find their way back to wellness. (you can visit her site here: Jenny Mannion )

Just the other day, Jenny was interviewed on Inspirational Transformational TV. In this interview, she discussed the path that led her to her calling, as well as the various things she has to offer, both in book form and how her own maladies had transformed her life. One of her books, the first she published as an eBook, is called "Discover How to Heal Pain Naturally". I've read this book several times over the course of the past 3 years; re-reading when I forget her awesome messages. It has helped me tremendously. (if you have any kind of malady, regardless of what the diagnoses are, you may find this book especially helpful as you make your way through the zillions of things doctors are telling you. NOT kidding!).

Anyway, as I was watching the interview she said something that really hit home for me. She was talking about her aversion to going to the doctor back before she'd healed herself. She told how she was going weekly for various tests and how those weekly visits kept her in a constant state of anxiety and sickness. In other words: they were just adding to her attention TO the maladies (and let me tell you, hers were pretty darned scary!). When she finally realized this, she made the decision to NOT go for a few weeks. She wanted to see how much she could heal herself without the doctors telling her how sick she was and how much worse it was going to get (as in: "you'll eventually end up in a wheelchair").

When she spoke the words, I could feel something inside me kind of snap. It was one of those affirming moments when you just KNOW that it's a really big shift. Because as I've been going through my own healing, this has been one of my biggest seeds of contention. I don't like going because I know what they're going to tell me...and I DON'T BUY IT. So I have to steel myself before I leave the house; remind myself that what they say has nothing to do with my own reality. Remind myself that I AM THE ONE who will heal me...not them or the drugs they keep trying to get me to take.

And you know what?

It works.

Honestly. It really works.

Jenny has the most amazing story...and now that story is growing as she helps more and more people find their way back. She is a truly remarkable lady and I owe her the greatest gratitude for all she's shared with me.

I thought it might be a good day to tell you this, as I just returned from the Doc and was 'vibrating' all the way home. Because this doctor is NOT a holistic doctor; she is a "specialist" (in the field of Rheumatology). She does not subscribe to holistic medicine any more than a holistic practitioner subscribes to biologic drugs. BUT...today she surprised me. When she asked me if I wanted to continue with this new "plan of action" (which does consist of a monthly shot), I told her that I'd made up my mind that anything I chose to take had to FEEL RIGHT IN MY HEART. I said, "In order for these drugs to do any good at all, I must BELIEVE they're good for me. If there's any contradiction in my beliefs, they will NOT work."

Know what she said?

"You are absolutely correct. And if you choose not to take them for your reasons, then you are making those choices based on what your body is telling you...as well as your intuition. I respect that and I want you to stay on this path. YOU know better than anyone what will or won't help you. I'm in your corner on this one."

I almost fell off the table! It was such a shock to hear this woman who had vehemently expressed her feelings about holistic medicine say something like that. It made me more aware of the magick that abounds...all day, every day. I'd listened to what Jenny had to offer (again!) and before I left for my appointment today, I sat quietly for a while, just centering myself and letting go of any semblance of negativity; toward the doctor, toward the meds, toward the entire experience I was about to have.

Yep.

It works.

Magick abounds. Call it what you will. Miracles. Serendipity. Fate. WHATEVER. When we set our intentions, and feel wholeheartedly, we open up a whole magickal world of possibility. I don't know where any of this is leading me. But I DO know that the more I trust, specifically TRUST MY SELF...the more I am witness to that magick. I happen to believe I create it...and there's not a soul on the planet that'll ever convince me otherwise.

Thank you, Jenny. For ALL the things you've helped me remember.

the moment you step out of gratitude
you step out of grace.
& moment you step out of grace
all hell breaks loose.
you forget all about the magick.
you forget all about how totally awesome
your world is.
you forget that you can
anything you want.
it's a horrible
terrifying
utterly life-sucking
downward spiral
that'll kill ya
if you don't grab onto something
on the way down.
then
the magick shows up.
all by itself
you don't even haveta ask
it just shows up
in the voice of a friend
or a perfectly timed note
or a bluejay with a mouthful of bug
calling to her partner
to come have a snack.
the magick shows up and saves your ass
in the knick of time
every time.
you remember
one single tiny thing
to be grateful for.
that's all it takes.
one teeny little wonderful thing
that makes your world so beautiful
and pretty soon
you're remembering all kindsa stuff
and not long after that
you're grinning from ear to ear
and dancing around the garden
like a crazy person.
next thing you know
you're right back in
Grace.
damn.
what a hoot.

WoodWitch On Etsy!

Well now...since I've closed down my JoyZAChoice site, it's time to get creative! Look over there to the right...and you'll see just a few of the treasures that are available in my Etsy Shop. There are wands and runes and art and kindness cards...and some new things about to arrive too...but you'll have to keep checking in to see! (doncha just love the suspense?!)

So, here's the deal...for the next few days (until May 31st, 2009), I've got the wands at half price. So...now there's no excuse to wait! You know you want one...who doesn't enJOY making Magick??? So, scoot on over there and have a look. More added every week, so make sure you come back again...and again!

AND...if there's something in particular you're looking for, just let me know. I'll see what I can do for ya! Ya know...there's nothing more fun than crafting one's world. And you don't have to be a "witch" to do it! We ALL have Magick...every single one of us. Difference between those who 'make it happen' and those who don't...is belief. Do YOU believe in Magick?