Four Ways to Attract Love Into Your Life

We attract into our life a reflection of what’s going on inside of us.  So if you’re feeling sad, angry or restricted  because of your weight, health, job, or past relationships, then you will attract someone into your life who is also sad or angry. If you had an issue with one of your parents, you will also attract a person with the same issue into your life so you can continue to heal that relationship.  Let’s say, for example, that your father abandoned you.  This means that you could attract a partner who is afraid of commitment.  If your mother was angry and always yelling, you might attract a partner with a terrible temper. So before you focus on attracting new love into your life, it’s important to do some good work on yourself first. Once you’ve accomplished these tasks, you’re ready to attract the right love into your life!

1) THE LIST

This is an old, tried and true, method that really works IF you give it the time and attention it deserves.  Take out a piece of paper and write on it, “My New Love Is:” and then write a list of everything you want in your partner. List all the physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and personality traits that are important to you.  Be very careful with your list because it works.

Once you’re done, hang it up in a place where you’ll see it often – the bathroom mirror or refrigerator -- are good options.  Then every morning and every evening read the list affirming in your heart that you’re bringing new love into your life.

2) CRYSTAL LOVE GRID

Create a crystal grid to attract love into your life.  Simply write an affirmation on a piece of paper such as “the right love comes to me right now” and place a rose quartz on top of that.  It’s best if this center stone is a pyramid or obelisk shaped stone so that it send the energy of your affirmation up into the universe.  Surround this center stone with pink stones (any variety will do) in a heart shape.  Keep this grid out where you can see it every day knowing and affirming that you are attracting your new love into your life.

If you’re in a new relationship and you’re hopeful it will grow into something more, write an affirmation such as “my relationship grows in love, respect, passion and commitment every day” and place it under a plant.  Place a pink stone in the plant and every time you look at the plant affirm to yourself that your new relationship is growing in love.

3) LETTING GO OF THE PAST

In order to invite in new love, you must let go of old relationships.  The emotions of anger, resentment, guilt and mistrust are very powerful, and they set up barriers in our auric field that tell potential new partners “stay away.” In addition to therapy and good friends, there are some great metaphysical techniques you can use to let go of a painful past relationship once and for all. 

For starters, gather up everything your ex gave you – letters, gifts, cards.  If none of it is meaningful or valuable to you, then donate the gifts and throw away the letters. If you’d like to hold on to these things because they have sentimental value, then box it up and tie it with a black ribbon.  Black is grounding and protective.

Next, write a letter to your ex.  This is a letter he/she will never see, so really pour your heart into the letter.  Get out all your regrets, dashed hopes, anger, guilt and sadness. Once you’re done, you can either rip up the letter, bury it, or safely burn it in an oven proof bowl.

4) ACCEPTING LOVE INTO YOUR LIFE

The best way to attract new love into you life is by loving yourself.  Do something fun for yourself every day – whether it’s running a hot bath, treating yourself to a manicure or coffee with a friend – make sure you are focusing on being kind to yourself.  When you catch yourself being self-critical, say, “cancel, cancel” and think of something great about yourself.  Learn to accept compliments. Be gentle to your soul.  Feel positive about your future.

So if you’re single and looking for love, open your heart to new experiences.  Expect, no, demand happiness and soon you’ll be celebrating with a new love by your side.

To Kill A Mockingbird

Last weekend, I was making pancakes and heard a noise coming from my driveway.  I peeked out the window and saw a stunned baby bird.  He wasn't moving.  At all.  He seemed to be stuck to the center of our driveway. I watched as a mama bird and a papa bird took turns caring for him.  One would watch the baby while the other flew to get a worm.  The baby would flap its wings and gratefully eat the worm, but it was not moving. I knew he'd fallen out of the mockingbird nest in our tree.  My heart broke for this little guy.  I quickly sent up prayers to Saint Francis of Assisi and finished making pancakes.  My daughters had friends sleeping over, and I didn't want to make a big deal of this or else I'd have a lot of tears to contend with.  Still, I watched as the parents continued to protect and feed their stunned little Mockingbird baby.

We finished our pancakes, and I sent the kids upstairs to play.  I cleaned up the kitchen -- all the while keeping an eye on the little bird.  This went on for over an hour.  Finally, I smiled in relief as I watched the bird hop to a bush right underneath the tree where his home was.  Thank God, I thought.  He will soon fly and be just fine.

I got dressed and took the kids outside to play.  Our 6 year old neighbor was already outside.  "Hi Miss Samantha!" He called out.  "Want to see what your cat did do a baby bird?"

My heart almost stopped.  I walked over to my little neighbor and looked in horror as he showed me the dead baby bird.   My cat was purring on our front steps looking as content as, well, a chesire cat.

Even though I was terribly sad for that little bird and for his parents who were still shrieking and flying back and forth, in my heart I held no judgement or bitterness toward my cat.  I love that big guy.  He's tough as nails but inside he has a huge heart.  He has three best friends -- all of them are black cats.  I call them the Black Cat Club.  They hang out in my yard, and when it's raining, in my garage.  Every day.  It's the neatest thing.  I've never known cats to have friends.  This cat of ours has always let my girls dress him up, push him in a stroller and carry him around room to room wrapped in a baby blanket.  I love my cat.

And suddenly I had an epiphany.  What if this is how God feels about us?  What if He sees beneath our failings and sins to the good heart that lies buried beneath?  What if when someone commits a murder, God grieves with us for the victim but still loves the murderer because He knows the true heart of the killer?  Is this possible?  Is that a glimmer of what unconditional love is?

The Course in Miracles taught me the importance of seeing God in everyone.  This message is also the theme of one of my favorite books Return From Tomorrow by George Ritchie.  I try to see God in everyone, but sometimes it's so hard.  That case out of Cleveland, Ohio where that man kept those three girls imprisoned for over a decade -- how am I to see God in him?  And yet, here's what the Course in Miracles says about that:  "Sin has no place in Heaven.  And therein lies your need to see your brother sinless.  In him IS Heaven.  See sin in him instead, and Heaven is lost to you.  But see him as he is, and what is yours shines from him to you." It goes on to say, "Vision or judgement is your choice, but never both of these."

We have to choose.  And so I choose to see the good in my cat while recognizing the good in that brave baby bird as well.  So maybe I can try to see the good in what I would judge to be evil people.  Everyone has dark and light in them.  Most of us, thankfully, choose to focus on our light.  But for those who focus on the dark and commit dark deeds, wouldn't it help if we found their spark of light inside of them and shined it right back at them?  If we choose, as the Course in Miracles suggests, to see the vision of potential in all people rather than judgement for who they are now, wouldn't that change the world?  I'm not saying these people shouldn't be punished -- far from it.  I'm saying that we need to focus not so much on what they did but on how we react to it.  We are only capable of two emotions -- love and fear.  If we keep acting out of fear, how will the world be shaped by love?

What Do Number Sequences Mean?

We see numbers everywhere -- on license plates, store receipts, addresses, clocks -- and sometimes we see the same number sequences over and over.  I have a friend who wakes up most nights at 2:22 am.  Once, I kept seeing 777 everywhere.  I remember twice at stores my total came to $7.77  People are afraid of the number sequence 666 for the obvious biblical reasons.  This holiday season, I was behind a woman and her item rang up to $6.66, so she quickly grabbed another item from the aisle and added it to her purchase just so her receipt wouldn't say 666.  Numbers have power.  Numbers carry messages.  Numbers are energy.  But what exactly do they mean?

We all have a team around us of supporters and helpers.  This team includes our spirit guides, angels and loved ones on the other side.  They aren't able to appear to us.  We can't hear them.  Most can't even sense when they're around.  But they are able to communicate with us.  They can have thoughts "pop" into our heads.  They can have moments of inspiration or meaning come to us in dreams.  They can encourage our friends and family to make suggestions that will help us in our search for love, jobs and health.  They can also talk to us through numbers.  I believe that the meaning behind these numbers is known to us on a subconscious level and that even though consciously we might not get it, our guides know our subconscious has received the message.  Still, it's nice for our conscience self to know what the heck these numbers mean.  The following is a brief overview of what numerologists have agreed is the meaning behind these numbers.  A word of caution though -- you always know what's best for you.  If you keep seeing a number sequence and you feel it means one thing, but this list below tells you different -- please go by your intuition.  It will never fail you.

Okay, so here it is -- the key behind all those number sequences.  Use it to help you decode messages you're receiving and remember when communicating with your guide to always say, "thank you" when the message has been received.  It makes future communications stronger and easier.

111 -- New cycle in life.  Any changes you're thinking of making in life are good. A big opportunity is opening up for you.  What you're thinking of you will manifest, so watch your thoughts carefully.

222 -- You are the right path!  Can also indicate issues regarding a relationship healing.  Your new ideas are beginning to take shape.  Keep working on positive thoughts and actions and good things will start to begin for you.

333 - The Universe is saying yes to your goals.  It's time to take action and make them happen.  Your guides and angels are with you now.

444 -- The Universe is saying no or not now.  It's time to go within and seek a new way. It's time to release worries and surrender your stress to God.

555 -- A life changing event may have occurred or is about to.  It's time for you to change and make some big changes too.

666 -- Slow down.  Take time to clear your thoughts and take care of yourself.  It's time to practice extreme self-care. Indicates that you are out of balance.  Turn your thoughts to spiritual endeavors.

777 - You've been learning important lessons.  Seeing this number sequence is your guide's way of saying, "Bravo! Congratulations!" You've been seeking and now you're in the discovery process.

888 - Something in your life is coming to a logical end.  Remember that all endings lead to new beginnings.  Seeing 888 indicates that a light at the end of the tunnel is imminent.  Hang in there!

999 - Completion.  Seeing this number sequence signifies a big phase of your life is coming to an end.  A lot of people will see this number sequence during a divorce proceeding or when you're retiring from a career.

000 - Unity with the universe.  See this number combination means you're at one with the cycle of life. It can be a sign that a situation has come full circle. Enjoy this happy time.  Feeling at one with God.

Use this knowledge to help you figure out different number sequences.  If, for example, you're seeing 1,2,4 -- it means a big opportunity is opening up, it's time to manifest your new ideas but don't worry about how you'll accomplish this.  Release your worries to the universe and your goals will become reality.  If you're seeing 5,7,8 that could mean you've just been through a big change (5), you've handled it really well (7), so hang in there because it's almost over (8).  If you always wake up at 3:43 am, that means the universe is saying yes (3) to your goals, so don't worry (4) and know that your angels and guides are with you (3).

See? It's easy once you put the puzzle pieces together.  Try this in your own life and I promise you'll never look at numbers the same.

What's In a Name?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could tell everything about a person just by their first name?  Wouldn’t you love to know the best way to approach your boss about a raise or handle that cantankerous co-worker?  Well, with the power of numerology, you can.  All you have to know is the person’s first name and – more specifically – the first vowel of their name.  This will give you insight into what motivates that person.  Read on to learn how knowing the meaning of just 6 letters can you give you amazing insight into everyone you meet.

A's vibrate to the number 1.  Examples include Mary, Jane, Sandra and Gary.  A's are natural born leaders.  They like to be number 1.  They are ambitious, hardworking and very self-critical.  They need to be in charge, and they need to be told they’re doing a good job – often.  Positive reinforcement is a great way to handle A energy.  If you are working on a project with an A energy, let them take the lead.  It will be easier, trust me.  It’s not worth it to compete with an A.  They play to win. If you compliment an A, they will do amazing work.  If you criticize an A, they will rebel strongly.  

A’s are trustworthy, hardworking and success oriented.  They work well as entrepreneurs too.  If you have an A working for you, make sure to compliment them, give them specific tasks to be in charge of, and feel comfortable letting them work on their own.  They will do a great job.

If you want to know more about A energy, think about the name of our country.  America is an A energy.  We value independence, we love freedom and we are the leader of the free world.

If you meet someone who’s first vowel in their name is E (such as Dean, Jennifer and Sean), ask them if they’ve traveled lately.  E's love to escape, travel and have new adventures. E's crave freedom and independence.  They don’t like being told what to do and will resist conforming.  The best way to approach these people is to let them march to their own drummer.  They will work best when given the opportunity to work on their own.  They love change, travel and shaking things up. If there's drama at the work place, you can be sure E is at the center of it.  The negative side of E is that some of them like to start trouble and tend to be gossipy. 

E’s love beauty and magic and creativity.  They love people and enjoy learning their life stories. They are like little detectives and will insist on getting to the heart of any mystery – no matter how small.  If you want to know about something going on in an office, ask an E.  They will be sure to know.  Because E’s are so bright and positive, they tend to attract negative people to them.  E’s need to make sure they only allow positive people into their inner circle. 

Similar to E energy, I's love to help people.  They are the humanitarians of the group. Examples of I energy include Bill, Mike, Rita, and Cindy.  I’s often have issues from their childhood that they’re still healing from.  They will often feel a sense of responsibility for one parent in particular.  Many I’s were abused as children, adopted or lost a parent early on. 

I’s are great leaders.  If you have an I energy as a boss, you’re in good hands.  They work well with others.  I’s are fair, even tempered and sociable.  They enjoy helping others and will do best in service-oriented or healing professions. 

The parents of the group are the O's. When you meet an O, ask them if they have children.  O’s love to take care of others and are very family oriented.  If they don’t have children, then they probably have pets that are like children to them.  O's work better on their own or as the boss.  They don’t like being told what to do.  Examples of O's include John, Rose, Tonya and Bob.

O's enjoy being in charge and taking care of things.  People working with an O tend to assume the O will handle everything, leaving the O feeling as though they’re in a thankless position.  Co-workers will often be heard saying, “Ask O.  She can handle that.”  Because O’s love to take care of others, they need to remember to take care of themselves, or they can feel burnt out and tired. 

O’s work really well as business owners, entrepreneurs and supervisors.

If you need a good laugh, seek out a U. They are the comedians of the letters.   Examples of U’s are Judy, Lucy, Justin and Kurt. U’s have a great sense of humor and love to make people feel happy.  U’s are very creative, fun and animated.  They tell great stories and will often exaggerate the truth just to make the story better.  U’s are the performers of the world.  They have a lot of creative energy and need to remember that they release stress through creative outlets. They are very spontaneous and think quickly on their feet.

U’s can have extreme energy: when they’re happy, they feel amazing, but when they’re sad, they can get very down. U’s give great advice and make wonderful counselors.

In numerology, when a Y is between two consonants, it’s considered a vowel.  Examples of Y’s include Gwyneth, Lynn, Tyrone, and Myra.  Y’s are the seekers of the group.  They like to work alone and need lots of solitude to recharge their batteries.  Y’s have strong opinions about issues and won’t easily change their mind.  Y’s don’t like to reveal too much about themselves.  They tend to be secretive and hold grudges for long periods of time.  Y’s love nature, especially the ocean.  They are very intelligent and can easily hold their own in arguments.  Y’s are very intuitive and are often spiritual.  If Y’s don’t have faith in a higher power, they will feel lost and disconnected. 

So now you have a quick and easy way to know how to handle the people you encounter.  If the first vowel in their name is an A, you know they need to take charge.  They make great leaders and tend to be very successful.  E’s need freedom, adventure, change and the chance to work on their own.  I’s make great bosses and are happiest when their job is helping others.  O’s are the parents.  They love to care take and nurture everyone else.  They make good bosses, entrepreneurs, and business owners.  U’s are funny, fun-loving and creative.  Just stay clear of them when they’re in a bad mood. Y’s are quiet, intelligent and prefer to work alone.  They like to keep their private life private but inside they tend to be deep thinkers and spiritual seekers. 

Crystal of the Week: Obsidian

The ancient Greeks used polished Obsidian as a scrying tool to see into the future.  Known to be a very protective stone, Obsidian blocks psychic attack and protects the wearer from harmful intentions by others.  It creates a shield around your aura.

When worn, Obsidian reveals old patterns and energetic blocks.  It helps the wearer to discover the reason behind an illness.  It reveals aspects of your personality that need to be changed.

Wearing or meditating with Obsidian will help you regain your power, your confidence, your sense of self.  It helps you to face your shadow side and recover your truth as you transform negative aspects and beliefs about who you are.

There are many types of Obsidian such as:

Mahogany Obsidian: This is a stone of personal acceptance and strength and helps us to maintain true to our convictions.

Rainbow Obsidian: This is a stone of great love.  It cuts through energetic cords that have bound two people inappropriately.  Meditating with the stone teaches you to be open to love again.  It increases your self-esteem and reminds you that you deserve love and joy.

Snowflake Obsidian: This is a stone of gentle healing.  It gently brings things to the surface that we've long suppressed but need to face again.  The white markings remind us that even in the darkest of times there is always a spark of white light piercing through the darkness and showing us the way to a happier path.

Apache Tear: This hardworking stone helps the wearer to work through periods of grief and sorrow.  Apache Tears offer hope, love and support during the most difficult times.

Blue Obsidian: This stone is especially recommended for psychics and sensitives as it offers distinctive protection against negative psychic energy.  It helps with all types of communication and is known as a stone of Tarot as it helps tarot readers read with clarity. It aids astral travel and enhances telepathy.  Because it helps one to seek and find clarity in a situation, it's also recommended for those suffering from memory loss or alzheimer's.

Crystal of the Week: Moonstone

Moonstone is a stone of mystery and magic with its ghostly glowing image floating beneath a smooth, milky surface.  Revered for centuries as a stone of wishes and hopes, Moonstone is known as The Stone of Intuition.  It helps you to get in touch with your emotions and learn how to follow your inner guidance.  In general, Moonstone is great for balance, intuition, travel and protection.

The Romans thought Moonstone was formed out of the moon.  Even today, some say the stone will glow brighter or dimmer with the phases of the moon.  In India, it’s still considered a sacred stone.  Lovers will often say their vows over matching moonstones to ensure love and fidelity.

Wearing Moonstone over long periods of time helps you to come to a place of balance in your life.  It assists with new beginnings and teaches you how to go with the flow.  Just as the moon waxes and wanes, moonstone helps sync your energy with the ebb and flow of life.  This effervescent stone lets you know when the best time is to take action or pull back.  It’s a great stone for getting in touch with your emotions.  However, you may feel overly emotional and sensitive if you wear your moonstone on the full moon.

Moonstone is a very feminine stone that helps you get in touch with “woman’s intuition.” It increases your compassion and empathy as it enhances your feminine side. 

Moonstone helps you to understand your destiny and can help you get in touch with your heart’s desire.  Wearing this stone is known to increase your psychic ability and help you to begin trusting your intuition.

If you feel drawn to this luminescent stone, it most likely means you’re ready to make some positive changes in your life.  Moonstone helps us to feel more serene and balanced.

Moonstone is a great stone for women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, battling PMS or going through the change of life.

When worn as jewelry, the white surface of this stone deflects negative energy back to its source.  So be sure to wear a moonstone pendant if you have to deal with a temperamental co-worker or cantankerous boss. 

If you know someone who works shift hours, give them a piece of moonstone as it will help their body clock to adjust.  Because it’s known to protect travelers, keep one in your glove box to ensure safe travels.  Moonstone works to release emotional tensions and stress, so you can try meditating with one to feel calmer and more relaxed.  It helps to prevent night terrors in children.  When placed under the pillow, Moonstone helps you to recall your dreams more vividly.

Oscar Wilde described the moon as residing in “her chariot of pearl.” Try wearing a piece of Moonstone and see where its chariot takes you.

Is Your Anger Serving You?

St. Augustine has a wonderful quote about anger.  "Hope has two beautiful daughters.  Anger that things are the way they are.  Courage to make them the way they ought to be." I find comfort in his belief that hope can give birth to anger and courage.  Anger can be a great motivating source.  Imagine if Ghandi never got angry at the way things were in India?  What if the Founding Fathers never got mad they were taxed without representation?  Anger can often get us to change things, to make a difference in our life, to shake things up.  Sometimes we have to get really angry before we can see how far off our spiritual path we've wandered.  And that's okay too.

Where anger becomes a problem is when we find it difficult to move through that emotion to the next one -- courage to make the changes required by the thing we're mad about.  I know someone whose husband divorced her for another woman, actually a friend of hers.  It was 1982.  He was an investment banker, so she received a generous alimony that she would continue to receive until she remarried.  So just to stick it to him, she never remarried.  She's 67 now, lives alone and still receives that monthly alimony check.  Her ex is still happily married to the woman he left her for.  Hmm, so did she really stick it to him? How is that anger serving her?

I have a client whom I'll call Jan.  She and her five sisters were raised by an angry father who only got angrier during drunken rages.  Twelve years ago, he entered AA, straightened up his life and apologized to his whole family.  Everyone accepted his apology except my client Jan.  Now she's mad at her sisters for sharing the holidays with their dad and so she gets to spend the holidays alone.  How is her anger serving her?

There are several members of my family -- too many to count -- who get ridiculously angry over politics.  However, unless they choose to start petitions, write editorials or run for office themselves, how is that anger serving them?  All it does is raise their blood pressure.

If you're feeling angry about someone or something in your life, analyze that anger.  Often what we're really angry at is our lack of control over the situation.  I remember reading a research article that said 90% of people don't cry due to sadness but rather frustration because they have no control over the situation.  You might be angry because you've allowed a situation to go on for too long.  You might be angry because people have treated you badly.  Unfairness is common root of anger.  Look at your anger and then ask yourself, "Is this anger serving me or am I serving it?"  Look at the ways in which you are feeding your anger.  How often do you think about the situation or person you're angry with?  How often do you talk about it with friends?

Anger isn't all bad.  Anger is empowering. It reminds us that we have a right to feel our feelings.  Anger gets us moving and changing our lives.  Where anger is bad is when we choose to stay stuck there.  Ask yourself if you're staying stuck with anger in a part of your life.  Is there an old boss you're still mad at?  Do you have unresolved anger with a parent or sibling?  Do you still hold resentment toward an ex?  And then there's the big question:  are you mad at yourself?

Once you can recognize the source of your anger, try sending love to yourself and the person or situation involved. Just picture waves of pink and white light braiding around the two of you wrapping you in healing energy.  Ask God to heal the situation for you affirming that you are open to looking at this situation or person in a new light.  Repeat to yourself, "I am willing to release the need to feel angry."

Once you drop the anger, you'll feel so much healthier and lighter.  It's the best diet out there!