Hello and welcome to the August 2006 issue of Horizons Magazine.

The heat is on! Up until the July 4th weekend, I was marveling at how relatively cool it has been so far into the season. I am under the shade of big oaks and pines, and I can walk all around much of the property without stepping into the direct sunshine. The heat and humidity no longer bother me as they used to. It didn't occur to me until recently that was connected to the extra weight I used to carry. Duh... Anyway, it's a real freedom to not be concerned about "how much will I sweat at this daytime summer event" and then try to dress accordingly. And that usually meant putting my hair UP and leaving all makeup OFF and somehow trying to keep sunscreen ON while pouring sweat for hours.

Now I actually like sweating, it makes me feel like toxins are leaving my body, like there is a big washing and cleansing of all the cells in my body. A friend who works construction says it feels like being baptized all day every day for him during the summer. What a perspective! I like the idea of drinking in lots of water during the day and sweating it out, just to keep the energy moving through me. It revitalizes me now, where it used to just drain me. But maybe that's because I've had a perspective change of my own.

The mild summer also means the hurricane season will be easy for us this year. Remember how unseasonably hot and dry the last years have been? No wonder the severe hurricanes and floods and tsunami were needed to spin the climate back into balance. This year so far has been wonderfully cooler and we've had enough rain to quench the drought and wildfires. The Earth is bringing herself back into balance. She's also reflecting the balance that we ourselves are coming into.

And we're helping her. We're reading Abraham-Hicks and watching What The Bleep? and The Secret Movie and learning to realize that our thoughts are creat-ive and that we can change our circumstances and our world by the focus of our thoughts and the intensity of our attention. We can help influence the group mind and the global mental plane by the direction of our personal thoughts during the course of our daily life, not just during the meditation hour. We help influence group mind by looking for the positive aspects in every situation. By ceasing all criticism. Now. By helping friends and family look for solutions to problems they have. By helping inspire and uplift others by the words you say to them.

I got a chance to talk with a favorite friend recently who is in the midst of a custody battle with a vengeful ex. I enjoy keeping friends pointed in the direction of where they want to go, when they begin to sidetrack by telling the story of their problems to others. And often repeating it over and over to everyone they talk to that day. Yes, it's hard keeping a juicy story inside, but don't repeat it unless you want to attract more of the same into your next week, your next year, your next 10 years. We laughed out loud when I reminded her for the 5th time in an hour!

Here is an excerpt from our emails.
Wow, what a trip the Universe has been putting you through lately, huh? But it's just in the testing times like this that we realize the fruit of our meditation practice. Aha! Maybe not remembering to practice every day? You will want to do it more now that you know. Because when you make yourself take the time to sit everyday and just breathe quietly with eyes closed, releasing thoughts as they come (and they will), you are not only quieting and relaxing your mind, you are strengthening your will. You know you are strengthening your willpower when you can make it through trying times with a minimum of emotional hardship. Wouldn't that be nice? And that doesn't mean you don't fully feel what it happening around you, you are just able to experience it from a higher place, a place where there is not much turmoil, merely the playing out of the movie. And to the degree your emotions are stabilized, to that degree are you able to successfully visualize and pre-pave and create the ending as you want to be.

Gurdjieff said "The harder the conditions of life, the more important the work. Provided, however, that you remember the work." That means to realize when you are having a big life test, as you are having now, to remember that it is a test. A test to see what you've been learning. A test to see how well you can apply what you know, under stressful conditions. After all, before you came into this life, you agreed to be a lightworker and an uplifter and you set up these tests for yourself. And so as you were going along in your little Life, the Universe sees that there are some areas that you are getting too complacent in, and not challenging yourself. So, since you are not acting and behaving as you agreed (with yourself), the Universe (as your co-creator in this test), gives you a little nudge that spins you into the whole custody battle fiasco. Hmm, that should get your attention!

And it did. So just remember to ask "what is my lesson here and how can I most easily move through it?" And it helps to remember that not all tests are this hard and hurt this much. We study spiritual principles so that during times of challenge, we have the presence of mind to get through it with understanding and a calm heart. We meditate every day, not just to quiet the mind and to strengthen the will, but to reboot the internal computer and allow a fresh new beginning once again. The more we do this, the more we are able - in times of crisis - to remain composed and clear-minded. So with each test, we are able to gauge our progress on The Path.

If it were me, I'd make sure to meditate each day. Nothing fancy, no guided meditation tape, just sit and focus on your breath as it goes in and out of your nostrils, for about 10 minutes at a time, longer if you want. When thoughts come, and they will, simply tell yourself, "later" and release the thought. You may do this for the entire 10 minutes and that's fine. You're making progress every time you make yourself sit and do this. And you use your will power to make yourself sit there for 10 minutes each day. You may use your willpower for 91/2 out of the 10 minutes at first, to make you stay. Your mind will get bored and try to trick you into thinking you have better things to do. Don't fall for the trick. No matter how busy you are, you've got 10 minutes to sit here and rein in your mind. You've let it for too long think for itself that it was the boss. But it's not. So if you think you're bored, you're letting it win *smile*

You're in charge of what you want to think. You decide what thoughts are allowed to stay and be elaborated on and chewed over. You decide what you want to spend more time thinking about because you know that the more you think a thought, the more you are activating that vibration. And the more you activate that vibration, the more you are attracting that very thing to you.

So I would take time to visualize every day about how you'd like these court proceedings to turn out. I would create a script and visualize on my own, unless it felt more fun and more productive to do it with a partner. You don't want any resistant thoughts during your visualization session, so do it alone in the beginning until you have some good, practiced thoughts going, then do some sessions together with your spouse if you like. Do whichever feels easier and more fun.

I would not give 30 seconds worth of thought to the topic of the other party taking your child away, or doing you harm. No one can weave with you a bond of discord if you contribute no strands to the weaving. I would immediately sit down and write out a script - yes, write it or type it - it's not enough to keep it in your mind - that tells just how you'd like it to be. You'd like the others involved to understand that they have no claim to your money, because once they understand that, their fight will be over. You'd like the others to understand that you're a good choice as the custodial parent and that the child is in a good place. You'd like the others to have some good, positive things happen in their own lives, so they can move on and have other interests, so you say a prayer for them each day and bless them. If they knew better, they'd do better. This is a valuable lesson for them, because they feel they cannot make it on their own, that they have to come after your money because they don't know how to attract it for themselves.

You on the other hand, know how to attract anything you want. Yes, it's not easy but it just takes practice. So in the script, I'd have the other party going on about their merry way, having their attention happily on other things. You don't care what those other things are, it just feels good to be free of contact with them and thoughts of them every day. You wish them well, because your wish for them comes back to you, and you know this.

I'd visualize walking into court and feeling like everything is in order, everything is going to turn out fine. The judge gives you complete custody of your child and, to your surprise, your ex is in complete agreement. The judge has your ex pay all court costs and attorneys fees. You walk out of the courtroom feeling relieved and released from burden. You all go out that evening and celebrate, and the whole family is happy and at peace. Life could not get any better.

That is what I would spend time visualizing if I were you :)
end of email ###

We email back and forth often to help her stay focused, and she is happy to report that they may be reaching a settlement soon! I love success stories *smile*

And here is my newest personal daily script:
I get up early and check my lotto numbers online and find I've won 16 million dollars! I'm so excited! I immediately meet with financial advisors who advise me on how to accept the winnings, and I feel that I have gotten good advice. My total debts are less than $xxx so I pay everything off and it feels great to have a clean slate once again. I think of who I'd like to share this with and what I want to do. I will give my good buddy _____ my paid-off house since she loves the outdoors and it is close to work for her. I will give her my car also. So I start gathering information about what kind of new car and house I'd like to buy. I get new floors put in the house and have the walls redone and everything looks fresh and new. I will give my brother a big cash gift! I go shopping for a new car and find one that I really like. I like being high up off the ground like in an SUV but I also like good gas mileage. I like lots of storage in a car and a good seat and temperature controls. It will have a Magellan navigator and a great sound system.

I find the perfect house and it reminds me of a friend's home on South Tropical Trail and it might even be there. It is surrounded by several private, lush acres. The house is wide and airy and spacious and the floors are marble. Everything looks very light and bright and clean. The high shade of the old oaks and the high ceilings and open breezeways keeps the house cool on even the hottest days. The furniture is comfortable and stylish and there is a screened porch surrounding the entire house, with several comfortable big rocking chairs. There are gazebos and sitting areas throughout the yard and in the garden. There are several gardens, all in full bloom and there is a gardener who has worked here for decades. He stays on and tend the yard for me and his wife keeps the home spotless and cooks healthy foods.

I have a beautiful upstairs gym with two walls of windows looking out onto tall oaks full of Spanish moss. It's filled with the latest equipment and has high ceilings with skylights. Friends often join me here and it's a favorite meeting place. I have a personal trainer who is also a fun and trusted friend and I enjoy our daily workout. My body is getting fit and strong and I'm healthier than I've ever been. It feels good to work out and use my muscles, and it feels good when friends join me for the fun.

My kitchen is huge and well laid out, and it opens onto a beautiful casual dining area and great room beyond. There is a cozy home theatre and my own office and studios are upstairs. I have an entire room for my painting studio and it feels good to equip it with all my favorite supplies. There are several stations set up so I can do various ongoing projects, and also room to invite friends over to paint with me. There are 2 walls of windows and skylights.

My office is well lighted and well organized. I have several working and sitting stations in the one giant room. I have all new updated equipment and everything is running smoothly. Everything looks bright and white. I have an assistant and an office manager who tend to Horizons for me. I now have plenty of time to read and find new articles and artwork, and to work on my own writing projects. I oversee all the office workings and know I have competent and loyal help.

I have time to schedule luncheons with favorite friends and we meet often to discuss our ideas. A lot of new projects and careers are inspired by our talks and we in turn help inspire others. I have time to travel and friends who are excited about showing me their favorite places. It is fun to travel to new places and meet new people and everywhere I go, people are friendly and happy and helpful. I am blessed to live in a friendly world.

My financial advisors have given me good advice and my investments are doing well. It feels good to know that I can have everything I want, and I make wise choices. The more I am loving my life, the more life the Universe sends me to love, and I delight in the fun of it all.
end of script ###

Boy, just re-reading that makes me feel good! And that's the point: to put into daily practice some short exercises that will help motivate you toward a happy future - however that might look to you. Just a quick journaling here, a short med-lite there, some creat-ive visualization here, just a few minutes a few times a day is all it takes to begin turning your entire life around. It's easier than you think.

We seldom realize how deeply we can touch someone just by our kind attention to them and taking the time to see what they really need; what is behind the words they are saying and the behaviors they are exhibiting. I have a friend who strives habitually to be a do-gooder and she goes in the chat rooms on the internet. In chat rooms, you can either type so the whole "room" can read it, or you can send a private instant message (IM) to someone. I saw this email come in:

"Hello. We talked in the Special interest: Metaphysics chat room the other morning. I was depressed and all it seemed everyone wanted to do was make fun of me or ignore me until you came. I was being a smartass to them too but inside was hurting so bad. I collected a lot of sleeping pills of my mom's but was afraid to take them and afraid to shoot myself but ready for it to be over, finally. Like the angel on tv you came in IMed me when I was acting the worst to everyone but only really wanting help or a friend. You talked to me like a Real person not some dumb kid. You talked to me in private just for me not for them. College doesn't teach you not to hurt or how to handle life. You helped the hurt go away a LOT by making me understand people don't always do it on purpose. Their own hurt makes them act like that so try to see past the hurt to the person inside the pain and anger. You did that to me I don't know how but thank you. I stopped hating my father that night. I have a sister I told about you who was hurting too. There is another friend I think I can help too. Thank you for loving me without knowing me. It showed me I can do the same for someone else. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. Don" end of email ###

This reminds me that no matter who and where we are, there is a multitude of people we can extend a loving hand to, and that our words to others truly can change their lives. And ours. Especially ours. I have a note over my monitor that reads, "Service transforms you." I know when I'm extending a hand to help another in need, I am the one benefiting most by it. When I can stay centered and stay conscious, I can remember to say and do the right thing.

So, this month I've been reminded of or learned:

1. The Earth knows how to bring herself back into balance.
2. My personal thoughts affect the group mind.
3. When I complain and criticize, that adds to the mix.
4. When I uplift and encourage, that adds to the mix.
5. I can consciously influence and help shift the balance in the direction of hopeful futures and positive outcomes.
6. I can help friends stay focused on their goals and remind them when they get sidetracked and begin attracting unwanted outcomes for themselves via the attitudes they have and the words they are saying when they speak.
7. Not all my friends will want or enjoy this feedback, so I must stay mindful and kind and light hearted if I do it.
8. It's easy to incorporate a self-coaching/self-actualization routine into my life, with just a few short (and fun) practices like journaling, scripting, meditation and creative visualization.
9. These personal disciplines work to strengthen my willpower and also my faith.
10. I'm in charge of what I want to think.

Enjoy our offering this month. Hari Om.