Manifesting with the Law of Attraction

An old friend, Michael, wrote recently. He said he envied my life here in Bali, that he wished he had the courage to live similarly.

He wrote: I worry about finances, health insurance and all that crap. I wish I could free my mind of such things. Could I make ends meet?

Now, some of you reading this have taken the step that he’s afraid to take. You’ve broken out of some conditioning just to live – whether for a moment, a month or forever – outside of the culture in which you grew up.

And it’s all relative. For some, living in a different culture is easy, no challenge, doesn’t require courage. For others it’s huge.

Michael, like many people, has dug himself an early grave and he’s in it. Not buried. There’s still light. He could climb out anytime.

“I worry about finances and health insurance.”

He bought the package. Insurance companies make a fortune off the same fear that he’s living with. And let’s not be fooled, health care, real care, real health, is not their primary concern.

Regardless, there’s no benefit in demonizing the insurance companies. They’re simply doing what they do. Yet Michael is living his life two feet below the surface of the earth.

Of course it’s ‘normal’ to worry about such things. Lots of people do it. Yet what’s ‘normal’ is no better a barometer to what’s healthy or helpful than getting financial tips from a poor person. Worry is making him sick and poor.

I wish I could free my mind of all that crap, he writes.

‘Bullsh&*%t,’ I respond. If he wanted to free his mind he would. As the saying goes ‘try is a lie.’

A couple of examples: “I wish I could have a great job that’s creatively satisfying, lucrative and stress-free.” Some reading this will agree: ‘I do wish that.’ Others, those who have this already, know that it’s not a matter of wishing it – though of course we must vision it first – it’s a matter of creating it. Possible or impossible?

A more obvious example: ‘I wish I could pick up that glass of coconut water.’ A clear example? It really is like Yoda said: “there is no try. There’s only do and don’t do.” If it’s not obvious yet, try it out – try to pick up the nearest object to you. Don’t pick it up, just try.

I’m not saying that it’s always easy, or happens instantly (though it could). Someone might have to work hard to create his or her dream job. It might take them years. The point is not the time, the point is the possibility. Anything is possible. Realizing that we can do whatever we want instantly brings us out of early graves.

Creating what we want is as easy as changing our beliefs. We can do that in an instant. Yet for many of us, it takes courage and power, it takes some momentum, to break out of the constraint of our inheritance, our conditioning.

Of course I understand Michael’s worries. Most everyone has feared there isn’t enough money, even people who’ve had plenty of money their whole life (especially them). That’s the thing. It’s so universally accepted that there isn’t enough money, everyone’s highly susceptible to believing it.

It comes down to a fear that we won’t be secure. Here’s a news flash: WE’RE NOT SECURE. We never will be. There’s no such thing as security. Life is insecure. No matter what we do to protect ourselves, to guarantee our future, we’re vulnerable to change. A tsunami, an earthquake, a stock market crash.

Here’s a good news flash: there’s no security, and there’s nothing to fear. Isn’t it true? Doesn’t something always work out?

Here’s what Helen Keller said about it:

Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature
Nor do children as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run
Than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and
Behave like free spirits in the presence of fate
Is strength undefeatable.

Michael wrote that he appreciated my response to him, that it was like a ‘summer breeze.’

Now what will he do with it. Snooze?

Whether he climbs up to create the life he wants or not, it’s a reminder for us. Is there something in our lives that we lie to ourselves about and say is impossible? Are we living below our potential (below the ground)?

Alarm bells are ringing. Sometimes it’s a summer breeze and sometimes it’s an earthen tremble. Either brings the question what do we wish to create. The answer is up to us.

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Daniel Aaron has devoted his life to the art of vibrant living. Awareness of our incredible potential for happiness, and that we are naturally encoded with everything we need to realize it, has led him on amazing personal and professional explorations in the fields of health and consciousness. From yoga with the modern masters, to world travel with enlightened teachers, to delving into radical nutrition and cleansing, this zest for life has resulted in a treasure chest of gems.

Now, thriving in Ubud, Bali he’s blessed to guide others to experience their maximum delight - through yoga, astrology, nutrition (raw food), writing, counseling, humor and whatever is holistically helpful.

Get a Feng Shui Garden in 4 simple steps.

Feng Shui! The mind boggles! Directions… a compass… the bagua… different interpretations- where to start- and to finish- in making sure you’ve got good Chi?

It’s my intention, in 4 easy steps, to help you create a garden that welcomes new Harmony, Prosperity and success.

How to do this? Simply, by putting in place the cornerstones of what good energy is attracted to in the garden. The basics of good feng shui can be created in 4 simple ways. From this base, feel your way to creating your own garden of personal taste and beauty. You’ll find Universal energy working for you and smoothing your path.

1. The original elements- Wind & Water

Any positive space has recreated the actual meaning of Feng Shui- wind and water. Indoors, this means there’s proper airflow in the home (wind) and there’s movement in every area- even regular dusting of an unused corner ensures that stagnation doesn’t happen. Water in the home means fluidity- that there’s nothing blocking up key movement areas, like things left in doorways.

Outdoors, a Feng Shui garden will be tapping the elements Wind and Water, too. Wind can be tapped literally by hanging a windchime, using a windmill, flying a flag or using a weather-vane. But more importantly, the symbol of Wind present will mean that every area of the garden has a purpose and is busy doing something, or is regularly tended. Water literally means that a fountain, water feature, pond, birdbath, sprinkler system or swimming pool has a place in every garden. And symbolically, there will be a flow to the garden- garden beds and paths curved or rounded, not square, or straight and sharp.

2. The Polar energies- Yin & Yang

Have you ever seen a Yin-Yang symbol? The balance of Yin and Yang underpins Feng Shui principle, and is essential to create an environment that continually attracts good chi.

Yin is the female- the dark, soft, evening energy. Yang is the loud, hard, bright, morning energy. Before we bring in a windchime or a water feature in, Feng Shui reminds us that the balance of the polar energies, Yin and Yang, is paramount.

I want you to think of your own garden, at this time. A balance of Yin and Yang means that you’d have a mixture of small and large plants; hot spots and shady corners, plants that thrive in the harsh climate here and softer ones which you nurture in a different space.

Only once you have your Yin and Yang in order, are you ready to use accessories or bring in new objects to create balance.

3. The Welcome Mat

By a welcome mat, we mean a clean, clutter-free environment. This is as relevant in the garden as it is indoors. We all know what a clean house entails. A clean garden is free of weeds and pests, as you deem them, and is neither too dry nor too wet. Hedges and bushes are neatly trimmed, borders are tidy, there’s no debris hanging around and accessories are neatly organized.

4. Positive Plants

There are three reasons why a plant can be considered good feng shui; you may divide Feng Shui plants, then, into 3 categories.

There are plants that, through symbolism, represent good fortune to the Chinese, whether by word association or image; 2, plants that absorb pollutants and/or electromagnetic radiation, and 3, plants which offer Sheng Chi, or good energy, with soft, round leaves, as opposed to those which create Sha Chi, or poison arrows, with sharp leaves or spikes.

The first category of plants offers good feng shui because of their meaning in Chinese culture. Fish in feng shui are a symbol of abundance because, in Chinese, the word is Yu, which sounds like a similar word for riches. Oranges and tangerines are given as gifts at Chinese new year because the words for these fruits sound like “luck” and “wealth”. So a plant may be considered good feng shui by association. This is the case with the Jade plant. It’s recommended to place a jade plant at every door to your home to invite wealth chi in and encourage it to linger longer. The ancient Chinese believed the jade plant to symbolize emeralds; hence it’s association with wealth to this day.

The second category of plants can be considered good feng shui for a more modern reason. Particular plants have been proven to be especially effective at absorbing pollutants and electro-magnetic radiation in an environment, and because of their abilities to transform negative to positive chi, these plants can be classified as good feng shui. Some of the most effective include:

• Peace lilies- which absorb toxicity and electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
• Date palms- they absorb xylene, which can be omitted by some art supplies and petroleum storage
• Ficus plants- absorb formaldehyde, which all interior surfaces and industrial areas omit; they’re especially good in offices.
• English Ivy- thrives in a spot of high earth radiation and a good absorber of EMR
• Baby’s tears, aka Irish Moss, an excellent de-charger, and you’ll feel your tension dissipate as you hold your hands over it’s soft leaves.

The third category of plants reason for being auspicious takes us back to the underlying principles of feng shui; creating a flow of positive chi. Feng Shui believes that negative energy is created in an environment through the presence of poison arrows- sharp corners, exposed edges and pointed objects. These sharp corners cut into positive chi and create friction. Hence, plants such as Cacti, with their spikes, and sharp-leaved varietals, are not considered good feng shui for the poison arrows they create. Conversely, all plants with soft, rounded leaves are excellent feng shui, such Banana or Rubber plants.

Outside, citrus trees are auspicious because of the fruit they bear. Plants with spiky leaves should be kept well away from doors to the home where they may “cut up” the positive chi that enters. In addition, every home seeking luck should have a bamboo plant- for bamboo

sounds like “prayer” in Chinese. Its flexible stalks also represent good health in old age, making it a welcome symbolic (as well as a low maintenance) gift to somebody elderly.

Not one of these three steps is rocket science; it’s almost obvious that to have a clean environment and healthy plants throughout garden will promote balance.

So, just to recap:

1. Get your yin and yang- dark and light, in balance.
2. Get your Feng- wind, or movement- and Shui- water, or fluidity- present.
3. Make sure your garden is tidy and clutter free, and,
4. Have the above-mentioned auspicious plants working for you.

With these priorities, you will be the proud owner of a garden which relaxes the eye and soothes the soul of all who enter. Now that’s feng shui in action!

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By Samantha Honey, director of Feng Shui By The Sea in the Gulf. Sign up for Feng Shui By The Sea’s free monthly e-newsletter filled with positive life attraction and home style tips! Register here: http://www.fengshuibythesea.com/contact.htm

Are you bombarded with negative thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, and maybe even shame about the past? How do you feel?

Stop! Just for a moment stop and catch yourself thinking. Yes, catch your thoughts, as it were. Do you hear negative chatter about what you perceive others are thinking about you? Is it a one-way conversation, or are you in agreement? Are the not-so-good perceptions interspersed with feel-good kind of thoughts about yourself?

It’s good and very therapeutic to take yourself to task like this every once in a while. How your own thoughts influence you has an awful lot to do with your physical, emotional and even spiritual well-being!

Maybe you’re the tragic victim of a troubled childhood, constantly or often rehearsing all the hurt you went through. The constant replay in your mind may have led you to believe that bad things happened because you must have been bad as a child. Consequently, having heard those messages over and over again, by now you may be convinced that you do not deserve happiness.

But, God does not see you as you may perceive others are seeing you and how you see yourself! As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed your hurt from you. Like a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear [show reverential awe towards]Him! In fact, He will even extend His righteousness unto your children’s children! (Psalm 103: 11-13; 17)

So you’re asking, what does all this have to do with health and nutrition? So much more than you may think! Your total well-being and physical health are all bound up together: mind, spirit and body.

You may be doing all the fitness exercises and taking all the vitamins in the world. However, if you allow past hurts, unforgiveness and offenses to control your life, you will continue to be bent over with the emotional baggage. Even though you may be smiling and gorgeous on the outside, the emotional strain will eventually take a toll on your physical health!

Take courage, my friend! All is not lost; there is hope! Negative thoughts will try to enforce a negative opinion of yourself and/or giving you perceived ‘permission’ to be negative and downhearted. However, those thoughts, or negative attitudes, can be broken! Once you recognize the kind of internal conversation you are regularly having with yourself, you can tell that ‘accuser’ to lay off! You now have uncovered the culprit and can make a decision not to associate with it any longer.

Choose to hang out with positive people and learn to find the good in both yourself and others. It may take a bit of practice and getting used to, especially if you’ve been in a rut for a long time.

God is not wrong when He says He loves you unconditionally! Allow Him to tell you how well you are loved. His Love will flow through you to others, and you will start feeling good all over.

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Ann Stewart is the author of “With Wings As Eagles,” It motivates, inspires and encourages others to stand victoriously in their trials. http://www.lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles Her inspirational newsletter: http://www.lifealteringwords.com