I keep a deck of Power Thought Cards by Louise L. Hay at my desk at work to keep the positive thinking and inspiration flowing. I keep one taped to my computer until I feel the need to refresh its space with a new one. Today was that day.


Like I always do, I closed my eyes and allowed the spirit to move me to the right card. This is what it said.


The front said:


I am open and receptive to new avenues of income.


The back said:


I now receive my good from expected and unexpected sources. I am an unlimited being, accepting from an unlimited source, in an unlimited way. I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams.


I so needed this right now, as I am launching a new business and saving for a new house.


We always have exactly what we need.

I often feel like I have an invisible wall around myself, a shield that keeps me from the barbs that can be thrown at you from the various encounters I face every day. I suppose a good amount of shielding is a little necessary--it's important to guard our hearts and not let other people's issues become ours. At the same time, though, I feel I do this a little bit too well...I don't always feel as though I am living as authentically or vulnerably as I could be with those in my circle.


I saw a friend on the train last week and we had the best conversation we ever had. We talked about our issues and our hopes and our fears...and in such a public space as the Broad Street Line made the experience that much more liberating. After our conversation, I felt really elated and wished that I could have even more conversations with my friends like this...that I could just break down the walls and truly let people in...not worrying about how I look or what people will think.

I've been reading Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das for the past few weeks and, I must say, that I find Buddhism to be fascinating and much needed in my life. For awhile now I've felt the need to explore my spiritual beliefs outside of the confines of dogma but with this exploration comes the feelings of uneasiness and a lack of grounding. For about two years I've studied numerology, astrology, tarot, magic, Wiccan, African religions, Kabbalah, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, and almost everything else related to spirituality. However, I feel like I've become jack of all trades and master of none and after meditating or where I should begin to really settle down and do some serious and grounded studying, I was led here.

I'm not even at the middle of the book yet but the message is very clear: we largely walk through this world in a dream, with our vision obscured by our ideals, our clinging desires, and our attachments. In order to be free from these entanglements we have to make a commitment to be enlightened. How simple--yet profound! Profoundly simple, without the flowery language or religious dogma.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. Here's the first one:

Technology issues have prevented me from blogging since my last post (I feel like Mercury is retrograde!!) but I brought in the New Year wonderfully, peacefully, and purposefully. On New Year's Eve, I had friends over and we ate, drank, and talked about the changes we would like to make in our lives. Some of the major changes I've decided to make this year is to stay in touch with the people I care about, to be honest at all costs, and to be more open and vulnerable with those in my inner circle.

I also brought in the New Year with a banishing ritual. A banishing ritual is a time of release...releasing those habits, qualities, and people who impede our growth. New Year's night was the perfect time for such a ritual, with the waning moon in Scorpio, the perfect sign for efforts of transformation.

2008 is here and I am SO excited! I feel so sure that this year has so many amazing things in store for me!

Starting tomorrow, January 1, 2008, I will be launching into the world of raw-food, with most of my diet consisting of raw fruits and vegetables, and of course no meat, no dairy, and very little processed foods. I have been a vegan for a year, a vegetarian for 3 years before that, but this indeed seems to be the most drastic of changes. I'm excited though, because I know I am going to look and feel great.

Here's some pics of some of the fun recipes I made already:

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This is a picture of all of the ingredients for my Green Juice. The ingredients include kale, cucumbers, parsley, Pink Lady apples, and ginger. I like to add more ginger for an extra kick.

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Here's how the ingredients looked when juiced. For non-veggie lovers this recipe is an acquired taste but your body will feel SO energized and vibrant after just one glass. I think this will be my new breakfast of choice.

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