"Work More On Yourself Than Your Business"

Once I heard statement from a person I respect alot, Christopher Hughes, he said "Work on yourself more than your business." I don't know if this is an original quote from him or not, but it struck a cord with me.

These words are stuck in my head and make a lot of sense. I think they are worth repeating "Work on yourself more than your business."

He said this as a statement of the value of personal development. These seem like good words comming from someone who about 8 years ago was working as a waiter in a Chili's resturant and living in a very poor neighborhood somewhere (don't remember what city) in Texas. Now, he makes over $100,000.00 a year in his network marketing business. He did lots of personal development, reading books, talkiing with people who know more than him, he attneded meetings and seminars, etc.

I'm not here to promote network marketing. But the idea is valuable in all businesses, careers or even in personal life. "Work on yourself more than your business."

What I'm getting at is, it is time for me to focus more on myself. I've been feeling a bit out of alignment, frazzled and unfocused. I've experienced feeling tired and when not tired, just low energy. Time for me to work more on myself, than on my business. This doesn't mean neglecting, just reallocating time while focusing on more personal development.

I recently got Centerpont's Holosync (aff) program, the Learning Stratgies Euphoria program, and I've joined Aaron Potts of Today is that Day in the Million Dollar Body Challenge. If you join up for the Million Dollar Body Challenge, look me up, my username is duelingdean.

In the past couple of weeks, that I've been using the Awakening Prologue (aff) from Centerpoint, I've felt more calm. Although I meditated previously, the full program seems to have taken it up a notch. That started in only the first week. I've dedicated myself to listening at least once a day. As I'm meditating, I can feel my body shift from one level to a different level as the tones shift frequencies. That's cool.

It's meant to be a long term program and in this brief time, I've enjoyed the benefits of deeper meditations and greater sense of calm. I still have wandering thoughts while meditating, that's ok. I understand that is still going to happen. Something I've noticed is that I'm catching these wandering thoughts and "just letting go" much easier. I think it's the sound of rain and ringing bells and resonanting bowls that provides a stimulus for me to focus on, as well as my breathing.

Also my sleeping seems to be better. I'm not sure if that's just the Holosynic program or if it's because of my increased exercising, which I'll talk about in a moment, or both.

The paraliminal program Euphoria is different and a bit harder for me to stay with, at this time.

I'll keep working with these programs and give more formal reviews once I have more time working with them.

As far as my exercise routine, until recently, has mostly been walking. I've taken a keener interest in my physical appearance for a couple of reasons.

1) I want to feel better, have better health and look good. 270 pounds is a bit more than I weighed in high school or even in my mid-twenties...early thirties or...well, you get the idea.
2) I want more energy, vitality and activity in my life.
3) I want to respect my body as the vehicle of my spirit.
4) I believe that in the process of conditioning my body, I'm also conditioning my mind and spirit. By blending a harmonious relationship with these aspects of myself all I got to say is "LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE I COME."
5) Heck, if I could win money in this Million Dollar Body Challenge why not get started.

Some things I've experienced already from this steped-up commitment to personal development:

Exercise

* I'm looking forward to working out. I guess it's a common belief that people don't want to drag themselves out the door to a gym, much less off the couch for some sit-ups or push-ups because "it's too much work" or "it makes me tired" or "I don't want to hurt myself." Me, I'm looking forward to my work out time. Here's why:
* I'm feeling excited when I am working out. I feel the blood coursing through my body, I'm more aware of my body with this increased movement. I feel excited that I'm working out and the sweat is a good sign that I'm progressing.
* When walking on the treadmill I spend time visulazing my dreams and goals. Because the blood is pumping and my body is feeling good, my mental picture of me is better because I'm taking action toward my goals. During this time it's more exciting for me when I'm visualizing, and that excitment is the emotion that builds the manifestation.
* At times, I think of it as a walking meditation.

Nutrition

Because I'm more excited about making the change to my physical appearance, I'm more aware of what I'm eating I'm making conscious decisions about what I want to eat: less fats and carbohydrates, more whole, real foods like veggies and fruit. I was eating good foods with some bad foods, now my attention is more on good foods.

My body still wants the comfort foods of chips and salsa, nachos, butter and toast, chocolate, Coco-Cola, etc. But it's my attitude toward myself, what I want to look like, that the desire for those foods has changed. I know that they taste good and that's ok. I think more about using them as special treats once a week, if even that often. My chocolate is my super special treat, one square of Ghiradelli's Dark Chocolates a day not 3, 4 or 5. (And dark chocolate is a good antioxident.) Cocoa-Cola, one bottle a week, I still like that sharp carbonated bite on my tongue.

I already feeling cleaner. I'm eating healthier. With more fruit in my diet, I feel less weighed down. I graze throughout the day, not eating until I'm full, but satisfied. I think about how good I feel when I've finished an appropriate amount of food without stuffing myself like a turkey.

With increased time devoted to exercise, food preparation, meditation with Awakening Prologue program, I find less time for other activities. Less time to watch TV, except for Battlestar Galactica and The Tudors, less time writing, oh well. But Chris Hughes' words still ring in my head "Work on yourself more than your business."

Religion and the Law of Attraction

Ellie Walsh put forward a great idea for the current edition of Law of Attraction Blog Carnival concerning Religion and the Law of Attraction.

Tell me your perspective - your experience - with religion and the Law of Attraction.
Do you practice both?
Do you feel religion enhances or inhibits utilizing the Law of Attraction?


Tell me your perspective - your experience - with religion and the Law of Attraction.

I am a recovering Catholic. I attended Sunday mass every week. Received the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Communion, Confirmation and attended Catholic schools all but 2 of my pre-college years. I seriously contemplated the priesthood and considered myself, not only a good Christian (acting in the ways of Christ), but also a devout Catholic.

While attending Mater Dei High School, my religion classes taught me about the Bible, other religions, Church history and teachings. The more I learned, the more the Church seemed too restrictive, dogmatic, full of conflict and I felt that my relationship with God and the Universe was more peaceful and loving, than to be burdened with rules and sins. But that is my perspective.

Like many young people, I then did some searching. I found community in other Christian churches, less restrictive, but still found no real connection.

I discovered meditation and Buddhism and later yoga. Peaceful and tranquil, but seemed to me, to retard my desires and ambitions. Finding balance was challenging for me and at times, still is challenging.

Then, through a series of events and people (those I attracted into my life, ya think) started learning about the powers of the mind. Then as I read personal development books, studied more religions and metaphysical sciences, I started to see similarities and connections between them. They are not exclusive of each other, they are interpretations and explanations of the grand puzzle of "life the universe and everything" that priests, philosophers, scientists, monks, thinkers, bloggers and others have been trying to explain as our understanding evolves.


Do you practice both?

No. What follows is my opinion, my beliefs and what I learned from my personal experiences.

I see religion as a stepping stone along the evolutionary path of consciousness. Look back over history and you'll see that polytheism is based upon the personification of the forces of Nature that were observed by early humans. Much like young children personify their toys and bring them to life. Later as the consciousness of humanity matured, monotheism developed and created a greater one and all encompassing force. Again, monotheistic religion personified Universal forces for human understanding. Now, in this New Age, leading edge thinking takes spirituality and understanding beyond monotheism and we find the universal forces and laws apply to everyone and can be used by anyone.

Although not religious, I consider myself spiritual. When I meditate, when the thoughts that wander through my mind are gone, I feel a sense of closeness, sometimes a oneness with everything. It's possible that my practice is novice if one were to compare with others. But those comparisons are a trap, so I will just say that my experience is my experience and fulfilling for me. As it should be for you.


Do you feel religion enhances or inhibits utilizing the Law of Attraction?

Religion can do both, enhance or inhibit.

Religion can enhance a person's utilization of the Law of Attraction when belief in their deity(ies) is strong and their faith that their gods/goddesses will grant them their desire through prayer or ritual. It is that belief and faith that brings about manifestation. Religions provide a good foundation for belief and faith. They provide teachings and affirmations for followers to develop and grow their faith. With an understanding of the Law of Attraction, a religious person can make better use of prayer, for example, replacing "Oh God, don't let me loose my house to foreclosure" with "Oh God, help me find ways to keep living in my home."

Those members who have faith and belief in their god's power to grant their prayers are just as successful in manifesting as those who are non-religious yet have faith in the Universe or even faith in themselves.

On the other hand, religions can inhibit utilization of the Law of Attraction when one is taught that we are sinful, unworthy, inferior, etc. and can only be "saved" by faith and, devotion will bring reward in the afterlife. It is these beliefs in sin, unworthiness and inferiority that cause resistance to receiving abundance. If one believes themselves unworthy (resistance), then those prayers asking for help will appear to go unanswered because of the belief of unworthiness.

The difference is a religious person can take the path of "it's god's will I'm in this condition" whether good (abundant) or bad (lack). The deliberate creator, one who accepts their role in the manifestation of their experiences, acknowledges their own resistances (or at least should acknowledge their role) and can develop themselves personally to reduce and eliminate their resistances and bring about abundance. Resistance is resistance, whether you are resisting God, the Universe or resisting your own deservings of being happy and fulfilled.

For the religious person, I believe that this New Age we are in, can actually make for a better relationship with their gods and goddesses. Just as offspring learn better ways to ask for what they want from their parents, so can followers learn to ask deities for their desires to be fulfilled. Knowing how to frame prayers when asking for divine assistance makes for a better communication process in the relationship with the Divine.

Whether you are religious or spiritual or not, I believe the Law of Attraction is a natural force available for use by anyone.

What do you think? I invite you dear reader to leave your comments or share your thoughts with me.


Other Law of Attraction Carnivals:

Law of Attraction Blog Carnival #29

Law of Attraction Blog Carnival #28

Edward Mills list of Law of Attraction Blog Carnivals

I'm looking forward to getting unclothed.

Many people, like me, when starting to use the Law of Attraction, desire to see immediate change and when it doesn't happen become disappointed and discouraged. We've seen or read "The Secret" and seem to forget about the "buffer of time." We are in a society that has been molded to increase our desire for immediate gratification: "Instant Loan Approval," "Get Cash Now," spray on our cologne and be a woman magnet "bow Chika bow wow," eating our candybar "really satisfies you" and many more.

As beginners using the Law of Attraction often when we don't see the instant manifestation of our desires, we cycle back to our existing limiting belief systems we've built up over years when ignorant of The Law of Attraction.

So when does this whole thing turn around?

Well, that depends on how much and how long you've been thinking negative and limiting thoughts. It also depends on how much you put into changing your thoughts to align more with what good you want and less of what you don't want. Remember the "buffer of time"? We still have thoughts and desires, albeit some negative ones, that are in queue still working their way through the system to get to us.

This doesn't mean that new good thoughts and desires won't or can't come into our lives. They most certainly can and will. What is important to remember is that we still have other thoughts and desires we had in the past that are in the system on their way to us. What we can do is change how we react and think about what manifests today, tomorrow and beyond. Look at this manifestation of a negative situation and think "Wow! I really can manifest what I think about. Now, how can I make this better?"

"If you do today, what you did yesterday, you'll get tomorrow what you got today."

Now is the time of choice. This is when we can choose to stay in the negative emotion and perpetuate the negative attractions or change our thoughts into one of a higher positive vibration. See The Emotion Guidance Scale in my previous post ("Back to Basics: Emotions")

This is where the training comes in to play. What training? That depends on what you've attracted into your life and what feels comfortable to you. Some examples of the training I'm talking about comes from reading books such as "Think and Grow Rich" "As a Man Thinkith" "The Science of Getting Rich." Programs to sign-up for, Wealth Beyond Reason (aff), Wealth Fundamentals Pack (aff), The Science of Getting Rich (aff). There is energy manipulation techniques: acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, reiki, Emotional Freedom Technique (aff), binaural beats audio programs and the old standbys of yoga and meditation. The list goes on and on.

By learning and practicing any one or combination of these and other techniques or processes, then we are preparing ourselves for life's events. The events we've attracted to ourselves by our previous thoughts.

I consider my emotions something very special and precious. I'm still working on the balance and mastery of my emotions. I know they are a very strong aspect of who I am. I am very passionate and when I feel or experience an emotion, I can really enjoy being in that emotion for a long time. Even ones that are lower on the vibrational levels, depression, insecurity, unworthiness, worry, doubt, etc. I do have great moments of joy, pleasure, enthusiasm, but in the past it seems I've spent more time with the lower vibrational emotions than with the positive ones.

In the past 46+ years, I've spent time with those negative emotions and attracting the corresponding events that keep me in those states. That is a lot of stuff I've been attracting.

Here is an analogy I've been working on: We all start out as bright shinning beings of spirit and over time we put on layers of negative clothing that cover our light. I've been putting on layers of negative emotional clothing. For example: Parents tell us "no" and we get a negative sock to put on. I'm pissed you cut me off, put on a anger undershirt. I got fired from that stinking job I hate, put on a negative pair of underwear and negative pants. I'm depressed my girlfriend left me, put on a negative coat. After a number of years, if you could see me with these clothes on, I'd look like a four year old wearing a goose down stuffed winter jacket, all puffy and lost in the clothing.

So, now I've spent a couple of years, off and on but mostly on, working on experiencing and living in the positive emotions. Each day, hour, minute of being emotionally positive, allows me to remove another article of negative clothing so I can get back to the bright shinning soul that was born 47 years ago.

I've got some more clothes to take off.

Each day I can remove one or more articles of clothing, I feel less burdened but the weight of these extra clothes I've put on over the years still weighs on me and sometimes it seems like I might not ever get out of all this. Now, here is the best part, I look back and see how many negative cloths are in the discard pile and I can celebrate the success of taking off more clothes. I can get excited about taking off more clothes and seeing the improvement. It's just a matter of how long it takes me to remove my clothes. Hence the title of my post.

Imagine if I were really wearing all those clothes. (Turning for a profile view: "Does this make me look fat?")

Now I realize how much of a burden all these clothes have put on me, how they restrict my movements and taking actions. Maybe even how unattractive I believe they might make me look to someone else. Now it's time that we, you and I, do the positive things we're learning to do: Emotional Freedom Technique, meditation, reading good books, listening to tapes/CDs, reading blogs, thinking good thoughts, etc.

How fast we take off our clothes is up to you and me. How many books do we read? How many programs do we sign-up for? How many tapes/CDs do we listen to? AND most importantly, how often, how sincerely do we practice what we learn.

The Magic of Games

Games are a big part of my life. I've enjoyed playing lots of games; card, board, computer and role playing. I learned many games from my parents and friends.

I started a game club on campus while attending Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA. The OCC Game Club was one of the most active, involved and recognized clubs on campus. Our club did funsraisers and the proceeds were used to buy educational games for the children's center on campus. Games are a big part of my life.

Some say life is like a box of chocolates, I say it's like a game. Once you know the rules, it's easy to play. Some players understand how to play quickly, some take longer and some players don't even take a look at the rule booklet. In the game of LIFE everyone can win. Unlike Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, etc. there is only winners in this game of LIFE...unless you declare yourself a looser.

The rules of this game are simple: Think, Be and Do.

Players: One Gamemaster and unlimited number of additional players.

Gamemaster: There is one overall ruling Gamemaster. The role of the Gamemaster is to oversee that the Supreme Rules are followed.

Playing pieces: One game world for all to play in. Each player gets one body, one mind, one spirit. (Note: everyone's spirit is related to everyone else's spirit.)

Rules: Think of what you want. Be in the now. Enjoy.

Strategy: Players can think about anything they want to be, have or do and they will be, get or do it. Whatever you put your attention to, energy in and focus on, you will get. Be aware of the Gamemaster, it knows what you are thinking and feeling and will give you what you want.

Watch out for the EGO. This component of your playing piece can sometimes get in the way and cause setbacks, defines and sets limitations and otherwise make the game less enjoyable than it should be.

The game is most enjoyed when shared with others, so include as many people as you can. Make more friends, smile more and have a great time.

Have fun and pass the dice.

Back to Basics: Quiet Time

Recently, I took a step back from all the activity I was involved in; blogging, personal development and businesses that I'm working on and realized I've spent less time on spiritual development. Meaning I've taken on a whole bunch of activities directed toward accomplishment and achievement on the physical plane and I lowered the amount of time I spent on spiritual development.

I, once again, came across the video of Dr. Wayne Dyer's Power of Intention and realized that my connection with Source got a bit rusty. (If you have already seen this, like I had, you might want to take a look at it again since it's come into your life.) :)

As we know, the Law of Attraction is a Universal Law. Something that applies everywhere, to eveyone, like gravity. We know that our emotions, what we feel, is a guide to what we are vibrating, therefore what we are attracting to in our lives. Sometimes we, like I referenced in my opening paragraph, get so involved into manifestation activities that only see those activities and sometimes forget about those others activities that connect us with Source, the Universe, or God(ess) if you prefer.

I'm refering to quiet time or meditation. What physical activity does for manifestion of our desires in this world, meditation does for manifestation in the spiritual world. It is a balance that is needed. Got to get both the spiritual world and physical world to work together.

During the summer months, I was much more in balance. I devoted fairly equal time to physical activites and spiritual activites. I then started to shift more into physical activites to speed up the process, but only found out that negelcting the spiritual activities not only hindered any growth I was making, but I ended up crashing again.

Crashing is a bit drastic of a term, we sometimes do that use drastic or overdramatized language to convey meaning. So, let's say I took some backsteps. :)

Anyway, I started making more time to sit. Not so much meditate, but sit quietly.

Examples:

1) I stopped going outside to eat my lunch and connecting with nature. Well, it was getting too hot for me, so I sat inside. I said to myself, "Well, since I'm in the coolness of inside, let's see what's on TV. Oh, goodie, "How It's Made" is on, that's educational." Loss of connection with nature/abundance. So now, I am going back outside to eat lunch and soak in the heat and appreciate the heat, welcome the heat, for the short period I'm outside. I stopped identifing with how miserable the heat is and welcomed it for it's part in the cycle of seasons.

2) I stopped reading blogs on personal development. Many people say that reading 10 minutes a day of a good book (or blogs) will help develop your mind because you are planting good thoughts in your minds garden. (Lifted from James Allen's excellent book As a Man Thinketh) Since I stopped reading "personal development" ideas (planting good seeds of thought) when I was working on business plans and reading business books, I was comming across some seeds of negitivity "beware of this', 'watch out for that'. Just little seeds of doubt and negativity that carried over into other areas of my life, not just business. What shook me out of this finally reading an email/subscription from Ed Mills' Evolving Times. He mentioned that he gets lot's of good lessions from reading other's blogs. I thought to myself "Dang it, Dean, you used to do this all the time. Get back to reading PD blogs, you always find something that strikes the right cord for the right situation."

In summary, take a balance approach to your life. Both spiritual and physical development. Make some quiet time, to sit and calm yourself. Connect with spirit, wether it is outside eating lunch, going for walks, or meditating. Reconnect with Source.

Also keep planting good thought seeds in your mind's garden. Read good books, blogs or The Good Book, whatever, just keep good thoughts going into your mind.

Blessed Be.

Help! I've Fallen and I Can Get Up.

It's been over two weeks since my last post for a few reasons. Not that it really matters, but sharing my experiences is what this blog is all about.

Recently, I put out that I'm looking for additional sources of passive income. About three weeks ago while I was reading blogs, I came across an article that reminded me of an opportunity I was looking at a few years ago. I started doing research in that project again, reading blogs, forums, ordering catalogues from manufacturers, developing a business plan, etc.

Later, I came across another source that rekindled an interest in another opportunity as well. This opportunity came up in conversations as well, so I started to put energy into researching that path as well.

Now, I've got two new projects I'm researching, I still desire to develop this blog, writing, Law of Attraction discussion groups and my speaking and coaching business. Yes, I like multi-tasking activities for variety.

While researching the business opportunities presented to me and the time I devoted into researching those projects, I took time away from blogging, meditating and other activities. Then, I started to feel a bit guilty for not being involved in those activites and picked up watching TV again as an escape. I did focused on sitcoms since laughter is a high vibration activity. Unless, it is countered with guilt for passively watching humourous disfunctional relationships on TV thereby deliberately recreating the same life that is behind me.

Now get this, in the past two weeks, I had to fight off some illness, missed sometime working and taken more medicine than I've taken in years. Of course, this could also be related to the increased energy work I'm doing in clearing out blockages and releasing negative energy. ;-)

I'm sure it's all related and each activity in itself is ok in moderation, but adding them all up is a disruption to the positive high vibration life I've been cultivating.

Then I remembered, that's a key phase here, what Aaron at Today is that Day posted an article on Summer Solstice. The key phrase in that article is "I Remember".

To quote Aaron:

...I am utterly and completely in charge of how I feel, and the fact that I how I feel from moment to moment creates my life.

So, if I feel dull, listless, unmotivated, and just generally uninterested in life, then I will have a dull, listless, unmotivated and generally uninteresting life.

On the other hand, if I realize that every single moment is a chance for me to sit up straight, consciously realize my state of mind, and make any adjustments necessary, then I end up with a life full of consciously created moments.

You can see this full article here. Aaron's got a great site, so spend sometime there.

So, today, after spending sometime reading wonderful, uplifting and all around good feeling material that can be found in my "Blogs I enjoy visiting" list I reminded myself that "I was productive, I did attract what I asked for (ways to make passive income). I observed how I felt after spending less time doing high vibrational activites blogging, meditating, writing in my journals, etc. that I remembered that being in high vibrational activities is more important than doing the research for developing additional streams of income and watching humorous disfunctional relationships. The income will still be there, the opportunities will flesh out and develop. What is most important is to keep the high vibrations happening so that I attract the people, information and resources for opportunities to come into my life.

How I Raise My Vibes: The High Vibes Game

This TAG game is interesting and fun. :)

I was doing some online reading tonight. I usually don't go online Friday nights since I watch the Sci-Fi channel. But tonight Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis are reruns, so...

Anyway, Cardin over at www.optimistlab.com started the High Vibes Game. I like to play games, they are fun and interesting. The High Vibes Game is fun for me, because it gives me something new and informative to post. Interesting because this game will help many readers gain access to a lot of good ideas on how to raise one's vibrations.

When I had this post completed, I was going to post an article of Vickie's from www.contemplatethis.com at High Vibe It, that is when I found out I had been TAGged for this game. Thanks Vickie for giving me my first TAG and raising my vibration. :)

Here are some of the activities I do to increase my vibrations. (In no particular order.)

Hang-out with and/or Talk with Friends

Since my friends and I are attracted to each other, we obviously have similar vibrations. We like to talk about high vibration topics; just laugh and have fun; enjoy life; or do other high vibration activites. Being with friends is where I can be totally free. No work behavioral requirements, no concern for political correctness, or need to comply with societal expectations.

Play with Children

Children are much closer to their True Source than many adults. So, they feelings of joy and happiness seem to be more honest and fulfilling. Their high vibrations of happiness and laughter are really quiet infectious. I love watching little children learning to use their body, practice drinking from a straw, learning to walk, playing with a bottle cap. What I really love most to do with little kids is play peek-a-boo. Especailly when it gets them laughing and giggling.

Go Outside

I'm fortunate enough that my work building is overlooking a canyon and nature preserve that is teaming with wildlife. I love going on walks and feeling the sun's warmth, the breeze moving up the canyon, hearing the birds chirpping, the wind rustling the trees and bushes. I truly feel in tune with nature's abundance.

Listen to Music

Long ago, listening to music that was what I wanted to hear took some effort. (vinal and tapes) Now-a-days, digital music makes listening to what you want, when you want it and in the order you want it is very kool. I've put together a playlist of uplifting and high vibrational music that really brings up and keeps up vibrations. I get a real kick out of the Universes messages when I just turn on the radio and find a really good song playing that fits the activity or experience I'm going through or just went through.

Appreciation

Today I have a much more thorough understanding of the value of appreciation. It was explained to me years ago, but the explaination in the movie The Secret really shed some new light. I'm talking about really feeling genuine appreciation. It's easy to say "I appreciate" this and that, but when I really feel it, wow, what a difference it feels like.

TAGs going out to:

Breathing Prosperity

Drew Rozell

I Am Thankful For...

Here in sunny San Diego, the weather is wonderful. I ate my lunch outside, at an umbrella covered table and was struck by the beauty of the day. I realize how fortunate I am to live here in San Diego.

While eating I recited my gratitude for:

my eyes, to see the beauty of the day, the variety of colors, the birds flying and the sun.
my ears to hear the breeze rustling the leaves of the trees, the chirping of the birds, co-workers speaking at a nearby table.
my nose to smell subtle sents that waft through the air and from my food.
my skin to feel the wind blowing, the warmth of the sun.
my tongue to taste my food.

I delight in my body, it's senses and the delight of it all.

Today I'm thankful for...

I usually awake in the mornings about 6:30 without an alarm. Well, actually my alarm clock is the sounds of birds chirping. It's 5:30 am, and the dark of night is just starting to lessen her grip on the world. A crow or two start to caw. Then another type of bird chirps in. More birds are starting to wake and declaring to the world they are here. They seem to be waking each other. After 10 minutes it sounds like a symphony with all the different chirps, caws and occasional hoot. It's like they are calling forth the sun to rise.

I'm watching the light of day come, something I haven't watched in awhile. The more the light comes, the more sounds I hear.

I'm sitting on the front porch of my beautiful two story home, a cup of coffee and the tranquility of this dawn surrounds me as the world and I awaken to this new day.

I'm Thankful for...

Wow, not even an hour out of bed this morning and great things happen to me.

First, a very kind and courtious driver allowed me out of a driveway to enter the flow of traffic, eventhough traffic was extremely light and there was absolutly need for the driver to wait. It's a nice thing to experience on the way to work.

Then, returning to the car after buying my Marie Calander's frozen dinner for my lunch, turning on the radio I first hear a line from a Steely Dan song "I.G.Y."

"What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free "

All this and I've been awake for about 40 minutes.

"What a glorious time to be free"

Watch the Universe for Signs

One of the teachings of the Masters of Law of Attraction is to look for signs from the Universe.

What is a sign from the Universe? Sometimes it could be a book that someone tells you about, maybe it'll be 2-3 people who tell you about the same book within a week. A sign might be seeing the same type of store you want to open for your own business go up for sale and you should buy it, or start your own since the competition is lessening. Of course that store closure could mean the universe is making you aware that the market is not ready or doesn't need that type of business.

I look for signs everywhere. It's not that I obsess about looking for signs, I'm just being aware of my environment. I look at the clouds in the sky, the animals that move around me, the conversation of people talking near me. Sometimes it's loosing internet connection at home when I'm trying to buy something on the internet.

Let me tell you what happened yesterday at work.

I started my last 15 minute break at work. Went outside and decided to open my car windows to vent out the heat and freshen up the car during the rest of the day. I also remembered it is an "80's weekend" on radio station Jack 100.7 FM here in San Diego. I thought I'd catch an old song and trigger a good memory. Something interesting about this station, it has listeners call in an leave messages about what they think about the station.

So, I get in my car, turn the key to power the windows and radio, the radio started and I heard a listener's voice say "I love what you're doing, keep it up." Then a song from one of my favorate bands, Fleetwood Mac, started to play "Gypsy".

Boy, did I get a good feeling triggered. The Universe spoke very good things to me. It said "I love what you're doing, keep it up," and played me a great song.

Today, I am thankful for...

1) I recently learned that my children and their mother will be moving closer to where I am currently living. Yeah! The kids will be closer to me again. Along with that, the schools they'll be attending are some of the highest rated schools in San Diego County.

2) The promotion at work has gone through, I'm now a Technical Support representative II.

3) The homeowner I'm renting from, Francis, is so willing to work with me and help me through my current transistional process.

I hope that you dear reader take an attitude of gratitude and be thankful for the good things in your life. Since I have started this practice of BEING thankful for the good things in my life, I'm seeing more good things in my life. Some of which you see here when I post them, others I just enjoy throughout the day.

A note: Being thankful is just that, a state of BEING. It's not a "thanks for this and thanks for that" just to get it out, as a courtesy. Genuine gratitude wells up from within, "from the bottom of my heart".

Peace, love and harmony

Dean

Law of Attraction is Magick

To many, the results of consciously using the Law of Attraction seems like magick. I've heard many teleseminars, the presenters in the movie The Secret and reading books on intention and Law of Attraction equate the results of manifestation to being like magick.

I've read, studied and practiced magick (or as friends and I refer to it “applied metaphysical phenomenon”) for several years.

I spell magic with a 'k' to differentiate the use of sleight-of-hand from the occult sciences. It’s a common spelling in occult writings. For years I also taught, sold and performed magic shows. So for clarification in my writings I’ll be using both spellings. The spelling with a ‘k’ will refer to the occult sciences.

Now, don't panic about the word occult, dictionaries define it to mean secret, obscure or hidden. Hence the title of the movie The Secret is so appropriate.

Now, what's interesting about my studies of magick, is that it was packed full of ritual and ceremony. That was appealing to me. Some might say it’s because I’m a recovering Catholic. I was also attracted to the occult because of the mystery. Who doesn’t want to know a good secret? I also had a desire for personal power, I wanted to make things happen. This was in part due to my feeling insecure and with little self confidence. I thought that the magickal powers would make everything better. I was looking for the answer outside of myself, in the ritual and ceremony without looking inward for my own power.

Good teachers of the occult sciences and all teachers of Law of Attraction I’ve come across put the responsibility squarely on each individual’s shoulders.

I can tell you that the same basic principles of the Law of Attraction are the basic principles of magick. Occult magick is a formalized application of tuning in the mind, body and spirit, also known as a spell, to cause a manifestation. Not so different from any teacher’s LoA program than anothers. It’s just their spin, their experience, their way of sharing the same information. Much like what you read here.

When preparing for a magickal ritual, the practitioner will determine that which they desire to happen or manifest, some might call this a goal. Many systems of magick will start with a meditation or some relaxation technique, a key component of Law of Attraction teachers espouse is the practice of meditation or some relaxation technique. While performing the magickal ritual, the practitioner is to work themselves up into a frenzy, a higher state of excitement about their desire and to visualize there desire manifested. Similarly, Law of Attraction is based on energy frequencies and higher levels of energy focused through the visualization of the desire.

Once the ritual is completed, the practitioner is to release the energy built-up in the ritual and “let it go” out into the Universe to let the Powers That Be bring into being the practitioner’s desire.

The Law of Attraction works like magic because it is magick. (Yes, I did use both spellings on purpose.)

The New Age movement; Neopaganism, Druidism, Shamanism, Wicca, etc. the numerous references of the occult sciences in today’s society are all evidence that the secret is out in the public awareness. And has been out for years. The explosion of media coverage of books and movies, the number of websites and blogs, the coaches and teachers are just lifting the veil of mystery that has shrouded the Law of Attraction behind the occult sciences.

And Quantum Physics is providing the scientific, imperical evidence that sorcerers, wizards and witches have worked with for centuries.

Blessed Be

An interesting sign

In my experience and training in the metaphysical studies and now in the Law of Attraction studies, teachers indicate one should look for and see "signs" from the Universe as an indication. An indication of what? That depends on the sign and what is going on in one's life.

A little background about myself. I was adopted as an infant, born in July and brought home from the hospital in September. The name I was given at birth was Christopher Joseph Bennett. When adopted I was given another name. I've worked in some form of customer service or with the public for most of my life. Until today, I do not recall meeting anyone with the name Christopher Bennett. Hmmm. Now, that's not an uncommon name, but not meeting anyone with that name before is interesting that I would meet someone with that name after all these years.

Just a thought. Don't know what it means. Just one of those things that makes you go Hmmm.

Good mood music

One method I use to put me in a good mood and feel happy is to listen to music that is upbeat, happy and with a good uplifting message.

I made a CD of songs that I have and listen to it while I'm driving. I'm sure we've all had those moments when driving with the radio or tape/CD player on and a great song comes on that just makes us want to crank up the volume and sing along. Today, I popped in my CD and the first song that played was Higher Love by Steve Winwood. What an awesome song.

Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is a wasted time
Look inside your heart, Ill look inside mine
Things look so bad everywhereIn this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Wheres that higher love I keep thinking of?

Worlds are turning and were just hanging on
Facing our fear and standing out there alone
A yearning, and its real to me
There must be someone whos feeling for me
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Wheres that higher love I keep thinking of?

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring be a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love

I will wait for it
Im not too late for it
Until then, Ill sing my song
To cheer the night along
Bring it...oh bring it...

I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel that love come over me
Let me feel how strong it could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
Wheres that higher love I keep thinking of?

Of course I have other songs, but this one just really got me this morning.

Gratitude: What a beautiful day.

It is amazing how applying principles taught by the masters of the Law of Attraction, such as Jack Canfield, Joe Vitale and Bob Doyle, really make life more fun and enjoyable.

An Attitude of Gratitude

I woke up today to birds chirping and a bright, sunny morning. I've said my thanks for today that it's beautiful.

I feel good about making progress in my work and excited about becomming a full-time employee with Time Warner Cable. Our building overlooks a canyon. Rabbits, coyotes, deer, snakes, birds and more live in the canyon. Now that it is Spring, there is more activity in the area. The whole area is more alive. What a blessing.

Affirmations and neglect.

Yikes, I've faltered in my daily practice of stating affirmations. It's been about a week or so since I was routinely stating affirmations. I got distracted by some personal issues that I devoted much time to resoving. Now that I've done my preparation work, I'm devoting more time to the practices of positive thoughts with intention of manifesting my desires.

Last night I was listening to an audio seminar by Bob Doyle and he discussed stating affirmations as good, but when you tag on a negative thought, then you reduce or eliminate the effectivness of the affirmations. With the children's mother trying to take the overnight visits away from me, I've been worried and concerned she will win. But I started to refocus on "enjoying my children overnight three nights each week as we currently do now" as my intention and found some options that will make it happen.

So, my next posting will be about affirmations and the importance of keeping a routine to enthusiastically stating them.

Until next time.