A Practice of Peace

Please join me in this prayer for peace.

First let us acknowledge that the only place where we can actually do our work is inside. So the prayer is for our inner peace which must by law demonstrate in our outer world. Let's do this together.

In truth there is one Order, one Love, one Power that activates all good in all places at all times simultaneously.  This good permeates my total being, as it infiltrates my thinking, my feeling and my body temple. This good raises my vibration until I am in total resonance with all good around me, with all good above me and with all good that moves and motivates me. This Good exists right where I am in all moments, in all places. I am always within its reach and celebrate this connection.


Choosing to be completely available to this One, on this day, I surrender to the call to be in service to all of human kind. I do this by allowing any and all places within my being where I might possibly house anger, upset, or resentment, I now allow love to wash over these places. Yes, mindfully and decidedly I choose to transcend any stories of whoa or victimhood and allow myself to be lifted to the heights of seeing this world in total peace and harmony as a reflection of peace and harmony within.

Let us know together and declare daily:

• No brother or sister raise an unkind hand to another.
• All of our One Spiritual Family eats to their full daily.
• All basic needs of food, shelter, and medical are within reach.
• Kindness runs rampant through the land.
• All religions respect all other religions without exception.
• We each learn to accept each other even without agreement.

And now, let's get real, the power for Peace lies within YOU. Look within practicing Radical Honesty, admit to where you are holding on to the old wounds and CHOOSE to let go and transcend the stories and pain of those wounds. You are charged to love yourself more each day and to love yourself unconditionally. This opens the door to the possibility of Peace.

You are in the world to heal the world.
You are the one we've been waiting for.
You hold the power for transformation.
You!
May bountiful blessings be your only reality!

With abundant love,
Michelle

Finding Inspiration where it is!

Adversity is the state in which man most becomes acquainted with himself.
John Wooden, Basketball Coach


I discovered this quote in a most unlikely place, in the movie, "Battleship"; a conversation between two brothers, one accomplished and one a total screw up. The truth of it rang way too familiar to me and I wish that I could not relate to it but alas, I can. I believe that my life has been interesting and depending upon the angle on which you are standing, your opinion will vary greatly.


My life has covered a variety of ground because I have known deep love and total rejection. I have experienced success and very familiar failure. I have thought of myself as a good, loving and compassionate woman and as a complete bitch. I can forgive like Gandhi but also hold onto some deep anger and resentment. Yes, I have been all over the place.


So in the quote, “Adversity is the state in which man most becomes acquainted with himself”, I can't argue with the fact that it was at moments of loss, despair, grief and total humiliation that the finest of me showed up. It was in those moments of despair that I was forced to reach deeper inside for tools and truths that would "save" my life at the necessary moment. What a wonderful thing to know that this resource is available and generous with its offerings. And I am certain that for each of us, we will name this resource differently and that is okay. Because it is all good all the way around.


The question I am left with is why I sometimes wait for that moment, why do I delay in reaching into that bag of tools where I find my comfort, inspiration and additional skills? In order to answer this I have to suppose a number of things. I suppose that one of the main reasons is this: complacency. This is not unusual especially in the world of metaphysics. You see, we are told to be grateful for everything, everything, everything, to appreciate our world exactly as it is and accept our lives as they are. I have taught this myself. Here is the problem, being appreciative for what is, is NOT a replacement for focusing on deep desires to live life full out, in full color, fully expressed and in total joy.


In order to create balance between the spiritual practice of gratitude and acceptance of what is while allowing ourselves to feel the desire for a more exciting, richer, joy filled and expanded life, we have to keep the fire up on our desire. One of the ways that I have been remembering that fire is by participating in a mastermind group and now by taking a class instead of teaching it on Prosperity. This way I remain the student with the mind of a learner and while being in this class, I have to keep myself at attention. My attention is how I keep focus on my intention and my intention is to live a fully expressed life. 


I am already very loving, accepting, and compassionate. I am already generous and willing to serve my family, my community and human kind in general but what I want to do more of is to serve as a living breathing example of being a FULLY EXPRESSED, FULLY PROSPERED WOMAN. I want to serve as this example to my sons, my family and my spiritual community especially since the truth is that the more I prosper the more I share of my prosperity and that is good all around.


So yes, it may be adversity that pushes and prods me at times but I choose to remain awake and aware and reach inside to recognize the opportunities before I am run over by them. Won't you join me? Won't you allow yourself to want for more, to allow for more, for total freedom of expression?!

. . . and So It Is, Meditations for the Soul

My new book has arrived. It is entitled: .  .  .  and So It Is, Meditations for the Soul
This book is dedicated to those who are not in love with "god" but are spiritual and simply love a sense of empowerment.
I am sweetly proud of it because it is filled with words of love from me.
Here are a few quotes from the book, at the end I'll provide the link in case you want to order it through Amazon.
BTW, thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for giving me a reason to have a voice.
Dedicated to my readers:

• Sow your seeds often.
  Sow them well.
  Sow them deeply, confidently and in private.
  Let no critics see your garden until the harvest, when they will be in awe!
• An abundant dose
  OF LOVE
  Melts
  All resistance.
  Heals all distractions.
  Reveals all good.
• LOVE IS JUICY, YUMMY AND DELICIOUS.
  Live a life that has you licking your lips,
  dancing wildly, and
  loving without a safety net.

~ all by Michelle Wadleigh

Link to purchase the book:
http://www.amazon.com/So-It-Is-Meditations-Volume/dp/061565326X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339867400&sr=8-3&keywords=and+so+it+is%2C+meditations+for+the+soul

My love to you.

Run from those who know but run toward those who seek!

How do you know who to listen to? How do you know whom to turn to for advice? How do you know what books to read, what coach to use, what course to take? It can get very confusing when you are seeking advice or guidance, and everyone around you claims to be an expert.

You first have to begin by being clear on what it is that you want. Do you really want advice? Advice is cheap, and you can get it on the inside of a Snapple bottle cap. Or do you want to walk the path that someone else has walked? If you want the latter, you first must decide what really matters to you because with some individuals, it is all smoke and mirrors.

Start by considering what qualities you are seeking to demonstrate in your own life, and at the end of the day, who do you want to be? Once you know what you want, finding a guide through the fog to who you are will be much easier, but always keep it real. When you begin your hunt for that "right" teacher/guide/coach, look at a few different things about all the candidates: 1) How are their lives? Are they happy? Do they embrace change with confidence and conviction, or do they balk at the first sign of challenge? 2) Do they consider themselves as experts on everything in the world, or do they admit that they are lacking experience in something, and suggest that you go elsewhere? 3) And finally, are their actions consistent with how they present themselves?

It can be easy to find individuals who think they know just about everything, but those who constantly seek to go further, to look deeper, to forgive more, and to love more, are who I want to be around. Watching one's own mind and ego is not an easy task. Actually, it can be downright exhausting. I check my words against my standard of authenticity regularly, and things still get by. What has helped me is the attitude that says, “I'm willing to be wrong and I'm willing to be teachable.” If you are willing to remain teachable, you will be gifted with all sorts of guidance that could be held at bay by an "I KNOW" attitude.

Want more love, more peace, more joy? Be the eternal seeker, the eternal student. Be willing to have life gently guide you to a higher experience of yourself. The seeking I'm speaking about doesn't mean you have to give up your current path for a new one, but to take the path that you are on more seriously, to stand on this path in total conviction. In the end, the world is our teacher, so remain teachable and so much good will be present.

Run from those who know, even if it is YOU, and turn to those who seek as you allow yourself to be the seeker. Dance in the light of discovery.

It is all about YOU!

So often, the most poignant truth is in the paradox. Yes, right there in the mix of contrasting opinions and points of view, a truth will be sprawled out, waiting to be plucked. Here is a paradox that leads to a truth that can very possibly save your life.

According to Don Miguel Ruiz and his Four Agreements, one of the agreements is “Don't take anything personally.” This is a perfect solution to all things in live time while they are happening. BUT, after the fact, if the current event slipped by your don't take anything personally filter, and has had an opportunity to spark a reaction in you, then a new skill is required.

This is the skill of taking everything personally, and totally realizing that it is all about you. Here is the difference. Prior to having a reaction of any kind, while using don't take anything personally as a really good guideline and standard, if you are accurately in practice, you should be able to prevent attaching yourself to an emotion or a story hence, alleviating a lot of pain. Once the emotion has taken up residence in your mind, asking yourself a set of powerful questions (Listed below) can help you find your own responsibility in the experience, heal the emotions, release the story, and free yourself. Let's take a look at some possible questions. (These are meant to be gentle questions of inquiry and NEVER, NEVER meant to create blame, shame, or suffering. so they must be executed with great self-love, patience and gentleness or we will be creating more of what we are trying to heal.)

·        What am I feeling about . . . ?

·        What did bring to the table or the room?

·        How familiar is this feeling?

·        How old is this feeling?

·        Who can I become, once healed of this feeling/reaction?

These questions, or others that might be similar, will lead you to look within and not without, will lead you to look at your mind, your thoughts and your consciousness. After all, the power of a metaphysician lives in his or her understanding and willingness to look within and heal within. ANY time we attempt to fix our outer world, we are looking and working in the wrong, and very limited, direction of effect. If we want a powerful life experience, it must be because we deal only on the inner landscape of our own minds and hearts. Trying to deal outside of ourselves is a misdirection and waste of time.

You cannot fix the world by any attempt to:

·        say the right thing,

·        do the right thing,

·        by trying to be "nice" (look at my earlier blog),

·        by being addicted to be liked.

If we take time to own the fact that what we are feeling is a reaction to our stories, our wounds, and our misunderstandings, and, instead of blaming anyone, even ourselves, we simply embrace the experiences as an healing opportunities, then we get to look at all of life as FOR US. Yes, life is for us if we remember to look through that filter. So when I say, “It is all about you,” what this actually means is this: If you are willing to look at life as an opportunity that presents you with clues to your greatness, you will never be without learning material.

When, during an upset, I remember to look within, and ask myself what this means to me, when I remember to look at others involved as a reflection of my consciousness, and not blame them, I find all the material I need to have greater and greater freedom.

Yes, it is all about you, in all the best ways; on the path to personal freedom, strength and true emancipation.

Love knows no bounds

      I am so very, very pleased, proud and supportive of President Obama for taking a stand for something, which I am sure he is receiving a mountain of flak. I am certain that many of his advisers cautioned him and I am certain that the conservatives and ultra conservatives are planning on pulling their votes as we speak.
     But I, for one, am proud. His action is so totally consistent with what this country stands for. His willingness to speak out on this subject makes him one of the bravest presidents we have ever had. Those of us who are considered the cultural creatives of the world will sleep easier tonight, knowing that someone is listening to more then just the popular vote.
    This is the first time that I have ever commented on something political. But can love really be political? Isn't that what we are talking about? Aren't we talking about governing love? Yes, but can we, really? Do we have a right to, really? A better question is, should we? No, love is not political, it is a principle that must be allowed and maintained.
    Thank you Mr. President for taking a stand for Gay marriage, for love, for truth, for what is right.

Moms

You are young and you are old.

Your role was by choice, and then sometimes it was not.

You had a choice, you said yes, and life for you was never the same again.

You had a choice, you said no, and life for you was never the same again.

You tried and you tried to receive that seed, and you questioned why not. You watch the mothers around you, and you continue to wonder why not? Why not me? Sadness, grief, and loss fill you.

You looked and you saw faces that needed to be loved so you made room in your heart, in your mind, and in your home. You didn’t have much, but you shared it anyway.

You said yes, and delivered to you was not the bouncing baby that you expected, but one who didn’t measure up, who wasn’t the same, who would grow you, stretch you and have you cry in the night.

You took him to the doctor, you fed him vitamins, you tucked him in at night, and sent him to school in the morning, but he didn’t see that car coming, and he didn’t know to protect himself from that drunk driver. You say goodbye.

You took all the right precautions, you taught her to protect herself, to say no, never to drive with strangers, but you didn’t know the evil was already under your roof. You say goodbye to innocence and wrap your arms around her and never let go.

You get up morning after morning, after a late night, with a fever, and put food on the table, say I love you, and go into your cave and pray. Pray for guidance, for protection, and for tons of patience.

Then they age, and gather opinions— opinions about you. They don’t always remember the little things, the tough things, the thousands of hours of care, but they will remember what you said wrong or did wrong or what you forgot. And you love them anyway.

Then you look back and wish you had done more, given more, loved more, angered less, and you pray for forgiveness.

You are young and you are old, but your heart is the heart of a mother, the one ancient mother, the one who will rise again, will love again. You are of the infinite essence of the maternal, guided by the wisdom that is a millennium old, you are Mother.