Embracing Chinese New Year
Welcome to the Year of the Wood Snake!
The Chinese New Year celebrations have begun! The 2025 festivities extend from the new moon on January 29 to the full moon on February 12.
This is an occasion to celebrate the new beginnings of spring. It is a time of family gatherings, traditions, good food, and fireworks.
We have entered the year of the Wood Snake. While many in western cultures have fears around snakes, they represent powerful symbols of transformation and rebirth.
Self-Love with a Twist
As we approach Valentine's Day, culture directs us to focus on those who hold a special place in our hearts. With flowers, chocolates, and candlelight dinners, we devote ourselves to nurturing relationships.
This year, I invite you to expand the narrative to include a very important person in your life: YOU.
Turn your devotion of time, energy, and appreciation inward.
Feel your emotions. Listen to your body. Say kind words to yourself.
Your state of health depends on it!
There are many misconceptions about Self-Love.
Many of us confuse self-love with self-care activities. We think that giving ourselves the gift of a manicure, relaxation time with a book, going on a vacation, or purchasing something nice for ourselves is sufficient.
Many of us feel guilty about the idea of self-love. Is it selfish to focus on ourselves? When we turn inward, does it take away from others? Am I worthy of this attention?
Recently I enjoyed a podcast interview of Matt Kahn on the topic of Self-Love. You are going to love it.
Matt is a spiritual teacher, intuitive healer, and truly heart-centered being. His description of Self-Love is unlike anything I have heard before: simple, clear, actionable.
Matt Kahn defines self-love in a unique way.
Self-Love is when you feel Safe within yourself.
The Unexpected Gifts of the Non-Verbal
Is there a non-verbal person in your life?
a loved one who is often mis-understood because they can't communicate in the same way as others
an autistic child
an elder who suffered a stroke
It's commonplace for our society to judge the non-verbal as disabled, feeling sorry for them and their caregivers. We look to doctors and educators to "fix the problems" of communication and cognition.
Is it possible that our perceptions are misguided?
Miracle Healings with Robert Peng’s Techniques
Since returning from Robert Peng's workshop, many of you have asked about the new healing techniques in my repertoire. The forms and underlying intentions are simple, powerful, and effective.
Robert's work is not heady; we don't have to name the ailment or its cause to impart improvement. We simply remove non-organic Qi (that which doesn't resonate with the person) and reorganize the organic Qi. We use Light to restore a state of wholeness and health.
I've been integrating these techniques into sessions, and the results are impressive. Consider for yourself:
Author Recommendation: Robert Peng
I highly recommend that you pick up Robert Peng's books: The Master Key and The Way of Virtue.
Both are beautifully written, edited to perfection, and fulfill the clear purpose of disseminating healing wisdom into the world.
The books meet you where you are. They will engage those new to Qigong, as well as those with years of experience. Principles are presented using universal truths, such that individuals of any background or spiritual belief system can resonate.
I love the format of Robert's books. In the first half, he shares stories, theories, and teachings in a thorough yet concise manner. The second half details healing and empowerment practices that can be applied immediately and for years to come. Throughout both books, the illustrations bring out the essence of the text.
Robert Peng: Qigong Healer Training
I feel full. Wowed. Inspired. Reignited. Alive.
How do I put into words the experience of 2 weeks with Robert Peng?
Robert completely exceeded my expectations. It is awe-inspiring to be in the presence of a truly enlightened individual.
He showed up without ego or judgement. His light-hearted energy brought a vibrant, lively feeling to class. Robert has a compassionate, engaging smile and warmly invites participants to play with energy.
It struck me how Master Peng answers complex energetic questions in beautiful clarity, concisely and with the weight of universal truths. His words are expertly selected to convey meaning with ease. What a gift to avoid the vague, non-answers that I am accustomed to!
Our daily Qigong movements and meditations were playful and varied. Robert mixed and matched forms, used intention to play with Qi balls, and integrated tapping and pressure points with the movements. We were taught practices that empower our intuition, Qi flow, and energetic integration throughout the body. At this training, the form did not lead the energy, but rather the energy led the form.
Transforming Grief
We are in the season of the Metal element, which is often represented in the emotional body as a feeling of sadness, sorrow, and grief. In this article, we consider energetic ways to empower our metal elements.
What is Grief?
Grief is that empty feeling inside; a void. It feels lonely and disconnected.
We grieve when we lose someone dear to our hearts.
We grieve when we lose a hope, dream, or goal for ourselves.
We grieve when we lose a part of our identity.
In grief, we feel the weight of eternity, knowing that we can never get back what we lost. Nothing will ever be the same again. What is the point in trying?
Pursuing my Dreams: Sabbatical October 1-14
When you allow yourself to dream...
When you allow yourself to have wants...
There is an invitation to nourish your soul in the present moment by taking steps forward to bring your desires to life.
In the first two weeks of October, I have the honor of learning Qigong Healing from Master Robert Peng in New York. Robert Peng grew up in Hunan, China, beginning his Qigong training at the age of 8. Through intense practices of meditation, movement forms, acupressure, fasting, and more, he developed and honed powerful healing abilities. Now he generously shares his knowledge in online and in-person classes.
Robert's Qigong Healer training is offered annually, and has been calling to me for a year. While I have absolute clarity and intention to take the class, my mind has been oscillating on the timing. Should I wait until the kids are grown up? October is a busy time in my household with birthdays, concerts, games, races, award ceremonies, and more. It's never a good time to take 2 weeks away from your family and career.
Now? Later?
Over the last 6 months, the decision point became clear through philosophies of expansion.
Leading from the Heart: Breaking the Habit of Control
Like many of you, I grew up honoring the incredible human brain. I was focused on critical thinking; making decisions through logic; considering all of the angles. Getting ahead in life was a game of strategy, planning, and will.
I believed that there was one 'right answer', and all other paths were 'wrong'. Enough mental gymnastics on a topic could lead you to the desired path.
I was so good at this game! Life was like a chess board, and I knew how to move the chess pieces toward society's definition of success!
In the last few years, I've been learning about the heart-centered approach. In The Qi Effect, Francesco Garripoli talks about quieting the intellectual and survival minds so that the heart can be heard.
He says that the heart resides in the present moment. It is the intuitive space in which we connect with our true essence and the divine within. When we lead with our hearts, we feel the answer instead of thinking the answer. When we make decisions from the heart, we are in alignment with our purpose.
I love this concept. But what does this mean? How do we lead with the heart in our day to day lives?
Vibrational Healing: Roles of Practitioner and Client
I have often wondered how energy healing works.
Why does each person have a different experience and result? What is the role of the practitioner? What is the role of the client?
I grapple with these ideas and continue to learn from every source I encounter.
Recently, I started following Christina Lopes, a YouTube presence focusing on spirituality. https://christina-lopes.com/ She shares videos about the spiritual world, chakras, divine guides, healing, and more. You might enjoy checking out her work.
I discovered her Light Worker Activations. These are recorded Live on Zoom with thousands of participants, and are available for replay on YouTube.
Christina's activations blew me away! She uses techniques to welcome powerful light into our cellular networks, leading to an increased frequency and level of health. I've never felt so high-vibe before. At the end of the sessions, my entire body buzzes and I feel fully alive.
Living Your Light Benefits Everyone
Time and time again, clients show me their big hearts.
They are engaged, intentional, and supportive. If you need something, they jump in to help. They are pillars of the community, supporting others as parents, friends, family members, teachers, therapists, doctors.
I love working with such big-hearted people. You are all a blessing!
AND ... I see the tremendous burden of this role.
Clients come in feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and on edge. They have 'compassion fatigue'. They work so hard to ‘do it all’, and are feeling the effects.
In sessions and group healings, we acknowledge the dance between helping everyone else and helping ourselves. We navigate the nuance of being selfish and honoring the Self. We always come to the same conclusion:
The best way to help others is to:
Be True to Yourself. Stand in your Power. Live YOUR Light.
It seems counterintuitive. How does helping ourselves help others?
Finding Peace in a Divisive World
Everything I read points toward the immense power of positivity. Gratitude practices, focusing on the present, and expressions of joy lead to a healthier and more satisfying life.
Over the last year, I have been pondering how to live in a space of positivity despite the ills of the world. When we listen to the news, we hear about wars and attacks that break our hearts. Our political system is divisive. Within our communities, there is fear of rogue gunmen, robberies, and traffic accidents.
It's easy to get caught up in the unrest and react to it. We expend our focus and energy on protecting ourselves, judging others, choosing sides, feeling broken hearted, and losing trust in humanity.
This may be natural and normal. And yet, the healthiest, happiest people are not consumed by these thoughts. They are not affected by the turmoil.
I ask myself:
How do I disengage from fear and frustration that is real?
How do I remain engaged with the world while being joyful?
Holding Space
In the last few weeks, both clients and spiritual peers have mentioned the importance of holding space. I find myself considering this term.
What does it mean to "Hold Space"?
I've come to realize that this is a significant concept, not just for the spiritual community, but for everyone.
Holding space is all about boundaries.
It's about being engaged and yet non-reactionary.
Holding Space is showing up with compassion and love, without taking responsibility for the situation or the emotions in the room.
Parenting Podcast - Heart to Heart
This month, I was honored to be interviewed on the Heart to Heart Parents podcast. Carrie shares insightful topics each week that help us to navigate the parenting years from the heart.
You are going to love this episode! It is chock full of tip, tricks, tools, and personal stories.
Listen Now: https://www.liveyourlight.care/heart-to-heart-podcast
Carrie and I had a great conversation about our Sensitive, Gifted, and Spirited children. Our kids didn't fit the mold, and we found that parenting books missed the mark. We searched for ways to parent our kids in support of their best selves and their personal growth.
In this podcast episode, we talk about the many causes of sensitivity, including food intolerances, heavy metals, underlying infections, electronic usage, and feeling other people's energy.
Our conversation turns to mindfulness techniques that have helped our kids, and are great tools for you to try! We talk about the predominant perspective shifts that supported us along the way.
Girl with Menstrual Pain
A 13 year-old girl came in recently, suffering from painful menstrual cramps. She was feeling achy, light-headed, nauseous, and low energy for many days around her cycle. Her flow was heavy and overwhelming. Overall, she was sensitive about life, with her emotions close to the surface. She took criticism personally and would break down into tears.
Her mom rightfully considered this intensity of pain and sensitivity to be excessive for a girl her age. They made the appointment hoping for relief.
During the session, we did a full Core Synchronism treatment to help the cerebral spinal fluid flow with ease throughout the body. We focused on the gentle rhythms of her reproductive system in combination with the brain, synchronizing these movements to enhance healing and reduce pain.
Her mom opted to Add-on a Qigong clearing to balance her energy-body. We opened her meridians and chakras and cleared vibrations that didn’t belong to her.
The Many Faces of Indecisiveness
In Chinese medicine, we associate the ability to make decisions with the Gallbladder, part of the Wood element.
The gallbladder is a brilliant organ. It stores bile produced by the liver, and manages the ideal amount of bile distribution for digesting each type of food. It must plan ahead to have the bile ready when needed. The gallbladder must be decisive about how much to allocate. It must have the ability to foresee future needs, create a solution for those needs, and help the body move forward with digestion.
Recently a young woman came in with crippling indecisiveness. Simple choices, like which coffee to order at Starbuck's, derailed her and never found resolution.
As we talked about her experience of indecision, we both realized how nuanced this can be. Everyone experiences indecision in their own way.
Experiencing Abundance after Burglary
Several weeks ago, I received a lesson in trusting the energy flow of the Universe.
Where there is Yin, there is Yang.
Where there is Loss, there is Receiving.
Where there is Lack, there is Abundance.
This is the breath of the Universe. It invites us to flow with ‘What Is’.
In early April, Live Your Light office suite was broken into. I arrived to work on Monday morning and found the suite door unlocked. The cabinets were open with a cigarette butt and ashes on the floor. The small bills of cash I kept for change had been taken, along with a tripod and phone charger.
It appeared nothing else had been impacted.
Through the shock of the break-in, I was incredulous at my fortune. The most valuable things in my office were untouched. The singing bowls, meditation pillows, crystals, and plants were all intact. Nothing was broken or damaged.
Even still, I felt a tremendous violation. In the following weeks, sounds in the hallway would make me feel vulnerable. It’s amazing how these things get into our head ad grow. The more we think about it, the more power is given to the event. I have to keep reminding myself that this is likely a single event, not personal, and won’t happen again.
And then a miracle from the Universe came into my life.
Manifesting your Desires
Clients keep telling me about Abraham Hicks and the earth-shattering wisdom they gain from their teachings. You shared, and I listened! In the last few months, I’ve been reading and listening to these teachings on an array of topics. I’m hooked and think you will be too!
Full disclosure: Abraham-Hicks is not human. Jerry and Esther Hicks are a husband-wife team who discovered in the 1980s that they could communicate with the infinite intelligence of the universe. Esther learned that she was a medium, and began to channel a team of non-physical beings that call themselves “Abraham”; named such because they come together as teachers of mankind.
The wisdom they share is simple and yet life-altering. I attempt to highlight their most important principles.
Belief Code Certification
As you may know, I am certified as a practitioner of Emotion code and Body code.
As of this month, please join me in celebrating the completion of the Belief Code certification!
What does this mean? Since the three energy code practices build upon each other, I’ll share the broader picture and history of these modalities.
2024 Solar Eclipse
Next week, the Great American Eclipse will take place from Texas to Maine. My family will join the other eclipse chasers for this unique experience. Here’s why you should consider viewing the eclipse as well.
In 2017, we traveled to Alliance, Nebraska to see the eclipse. My husband insisted that we experience 100% totality; at the time I didn’t realize that 96% totality at our home in Colorado would be a completely different experience. He was absolutely right.
Totality refers to the moon completely obscuring the sun. While totality only occurs for several minutes, the effect is a dramatic multi-sensory experience. The environment darkens, as though it is nighttime. The temperature instantly chills. Birds become quiet and crickets begin chirping. As the eclipse ends, there are beautiful colors of sunrise in every direction.
During the total eclipse, it’s possible to see things that are not generally visible. The stars closest to the sun are only observable when the light of the sun is obscured. The corona, or surface of the sun, is apparent, as well as sunspots and solar flares dancing on the sun’s atmosphere. We gain an appreciation for the power of the sun and it’s its ability to warm and brighten our planet.