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Horizons Magazine

More about Andrea

DECEMBER 1999 / JANUARY 2000

Wow, the end of the year is here already, and what a year it's been. We escaped
unscathed through a time some thought they'd never live to see. Yes, many Earth
changes have continued to take place, but not in the horrible way the forecasters
and mapsellers predicted. The strides we have made toward world peace in the
last ten years is living proof that we're helping change the consciousness of the
planet, that a lot of unfounded fears are being released and a lot more people are
taking responsibility and assuming stewardship in their communities. It's indeed true that a small group of people with goodwill in their hearts and focused intent can make big changes come about, not only where they are, but in the entire world.

HOW DO YOU FOCUS INTENT?
Focused intent? What does that mean? You focus your intent when you are thinking of something you'd like to see happen in the future and going over it in your mind until you are actively imagining it happen. You know you are focused intently when you begin to emotionally feel as if it is taking place. You are focused intently when you begin to have quick glimpses and insights from an observer's standpoint. Focused intent is the basis for creative visualization as well and we do it all the time whether we think we do or not.

HOW DO I KNOW I'M DOING IT RIGHT?
A lot of people think there's some big involved procedure, some specific correct technique for things like meditation, creative visualization, "seeing" in your mind's eye or attracting what you want. The truth is, it's easier than you think. Your intent has the most to do with it. If it is your intent to sit in meditation and gain insight, just bringing those words to mind and saying them to yourself sends out a big signal which the Universe responds to. Just taking the time to sit quietly and bring some thoughts to mind will activate your intuition and call forth creative ideas on all areas of your life. You don't hafta sit cross-legged on the floor in front of an altar to meditate or visualize, unless that particularly inspires you to stay focused.

IS ONE TECHNIQUE BETTER THAN ANOTHER?
You can stand at your driveway while watering the yard at sundown and spend a few moments thinking what the perfect world would be like, what it would feel like. What would the perfect job feel like? Or the perfect relationship? How would it be if the whole family got along great? What kinda things would you do together? How would it feel if you were robustly healthy and woke up each day with lots of vitality? What activities would you want to do? You don't have to have a special chair and sit in it 20 minutes twice a day in order to meditate or do a little creative visualization, or "prepaving" as Abraham calls it. Just spending a little time sending a few thoughts ahead every day is a very powerful technique in itself. A little conscious, focused thought goes a long way in smoothing the ruffles of a busy life, as well.

MAKE 2000 YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR YET
If you didn't reach your highest potential in 1999, you might want to do things a little differently this year. Spend a little time each day thinking about what you'd like to be doing a few years down the road. Make sure to schedule in plenty of recreation time in 2000, since it's when we're relaxed and having fun that we are in a receptive mindset to come up with lots of creative ideas. If you're feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, if you feel you don't have 5 minutes in the day free to yourself, that's a good sign that you need to take a week off. Trust me on this one. If you think you can't afford to take a week off work without pay, trust me that you will over time earn back much more than that week's salary just from the ideas and insights that can come during that week.

SETTING YOUR INTENTION FOR THE NEW YEAR
If you've got some intentions for the upcoming year, good for you ~ you've already begun to create your own reality. If you haven't come up with any intentions yet, don't beat yourself up for it. A few intentions might be to read a little inspirational writing of a spiritual nature every day; contemplate what you'd like your next move to be on the career ladder; consider who do you know that has a job you'd like and who has a lifestyle you'd like? What differences do you see between you and them? A good intention might be to add vitality to your body as you get a little older. Find something fun to do that gets you out of breath and has you moving your arms and legs a lot. I know you still have that old frisbee around, so take it out and toss it at sunset every day. Put a basketball hoop up. A good intention might be to eat more live foods, more sprouts, more fresh vegetables. A good intention for the year 2000 might be to set an intention!

CREATE YOUR PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
For the upcoming year ~ the New Millenium ~ you might want to make up your own personal mission statement. Read our Mission Statement on page 6 to get some ideas. You might want to make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Consider what skills you have and which you'd like to acquire. What do you see in others that you'd like to emulate? What brings you joy? What makes you come alive? What makes you lose time? What kind of service can you perform right where you are? What would you like to see multiplied in your community and how can you help facilitate that? Asking yourself these questions and writing down the answers will help you discover your own personal mission. Whenever I feel I have a mission, I feel I have something to wake up for each morning. Having a mission helps me get through whatever each day hands me. In fact, having a mission helps me get through whatever Life hands me. I may not stay on point and keep the same mission forever; my mission may change and evolve over the years. But it's helpful for me to have a plan in mind, and then go with the flow of whatever the Universe sends my way. My experience is that when I have any kind of a goal in mind, the Universe sends lots of other great opportunities for me to consider. A good goal might be to come up with some goals. You can start anywhere and anytime. Remember, every new moment begins right now and every thought we think and every word we say help form our experience and create our reality. And one goal of mine is to remember that every minute of every day for the rest of my life. *giggle*

Enjoy our offering this month. Welcome to the New Millenium. Hari Om.