Tag Archive for: Awakening Alchemy

Stardisc Banner - Stardisc at Sunset - Awakening alchemy

​StarDisc:

On the Salisbury Plain, lies the ancient monument of Stonehenge. Not that very far away at all, in Stoney Wood, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, lies a 21st Century galactic monument that is the StarDisc.

Stardisc at Sunset-AwakeningAlchemy

Photo Credit: Jim Bell

StarDisc is a stone circle and celestial amphitheatre that was the brainchild of Aidan Shingler. Carved into the black granite stone circle is a star chart that mirrors the Northern Hemisphere night sky. Measuring 12 Metres in diameter, the surface of the stone circle is inscribed with the constellations, their names, and a depiction of the Milky Way Galaxy. The perimeter of StarDisc is made from silver granite and contains 12 granite seats that denote the months of the year. StarDisc is illuminated at night and in gloomy weather, by solar power. I discovered this incredible site when one of my reader’s got in contact: He loved my book which opens with a message to all StarSeeds and he thought that I’d love StarDisc, of course Chris was right, and I planned my visit on the Winter Solstice, 20.12.2019.

What Inspired StarDisc?

In Aidan Shingler’s own words:

“Throughout my life I have been enchanted by the mystery and magic of the stars. My interest in the stars lies with our emotional response to them – their power to ignite our imagination and sense of wonder. The inspiration for StarDisc stems from a vision to create environments where people from all walks of life can gather, contemplate, and connect with whatever resides beyond the sphere of our world. I describe StarDisc as a temple without walls.”

Aidan Shingler 2011

StarDisc’s Opening:

Crowds at the Openiong of StarDisc - Awakening Alchemy

StarDisc Opening

StarDisc was officially opened on September 10th 2011, by BBC’s The Sky at Night presenter, Peter Lawrence. It had taken six years from Aidan’s conception to completion. More than a thousand people participated in the opening celebration, which included an outdoor screening of Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Supported by world-renowned astronomer and television presenter, Sir Patrick Moore, Sir Patrick was moved to comment:

StarDisc is intended to inspire, entertain, engage and educate; that too has been my intention during the 55 years I have presented The Sky at Night. To study the stars is to study life.; the more we understand the stars, the more we understand ourselves… Congratulations to all who have made StarDisc a reality.”

Sir Patrick Moore 1923 – 2012

Since it’s opening in 2011, tens of thousands of visitors have flocked to the StarDisc and numerous events have been staged there. It is free to visit and open to anyone, 24 hours a day, all year round.

StarDisc Array:

StarDisdc at Night Lit up by Solar lights - Awakening Alchemy

Photo Credit: Rod Kirkpatrick

It is the dream of Aidan Shingler and others to establish a StarDisc Array, of similar monuments all over Britain. This array would form a series of linked visionary, interactive, artistic creations that would encourage public participation and provide social, economic and community benefits to the areas in which they are established. Each StarDisc will celebrate diversity, creativity, promote inclusion, and nurture cohesion in communities.

One of the visions of Aidan Shingler is to create a monument that will both fascinate and intrigue archaeologists in the future as they try to piece together civilisation at the dawn of 21th Century. He sees StarDisc as a torch bearer for the union of art, science and spirituality.

Anna Clyne, fundraiser, puts it this way:

StarDisc is a special and magical place and I firmly believe that more locations across the UK through the StarDisc Array would be of great benefit to many communities.”

Anna Clyne

Allied to the creation of a StarDisc Array is the idea of the creation of a Star Seekers Way. This is envisaged as a mapped route, a stellar trail that will help develop astro-tourism, encouraging visitors to embark on a journey of self-discovery to each separate StarDisc.

What an awesome idea? This can be seen as contributing to the nation’s creative and artistic heritage and leaving an enduring cultural legacy for all humanity.

Who is Aidan Shingler?

Person Meditating at Sunset on Top of StarDisc - Awakening Alchemy

Photo Credit: Jim Bell

London born, Aidan, now lives in Derbyshire with his dancer, writer, wife, Tricia Durdey. For almost four decades now he has worked tirelessly as an artist, writer, and activist. He conceived of and organised the Kissit XX Campaign; a series of national protests to expose human rights violations in the psychiatric system. He is the co-author of On the Receiving End, a book that highlights the impacts of psychiatric assault and calls for radical reform in the mental health system. His art is intended to question and challenge the ruling paradigms of thought and culture, inviting participants to “look at the world, anew”.

In one of his many talks Aidan raises the question: Schizophrenia, Insanity or Enlightenment?

If we consider the altered states of those who have achieved states of Enlightenment through meditation such as Buddhists, Hindu’s, New Agers (Ekhert Toll) trance mediums, to mention but a few, it is clear that in order to achieve higher levels of insight it is necessary to by bass the Ego, and that is to say, to vault over all the many limiting beliefs and constructs to reach altered states of consciousness. Society is quick to label people with a different experience of life, and the knee jerk reaction is to shame and silence them. Yet, consider this; we are societies who fail to value the Earth that gives us nourishment and often lose the thread of the kindness, and compassion that connects us to the soul that is at ONE with the Universal Mind. So perhaps they are simply more sensitive and have greater access to more profound truths?

StarDisc Illuminated by the Rising Sun - Awakening Alchemy

Photo Credit: George Peck

Aidan discusses this in his beautiful book, “Psyche,” published by Thorntree where he mentions receiving information via an auditory transmission about a future encounter with Star People. Later he opened a chocolate Kinder Egg which contained a small figurine Asterix, which means star!

Do visit the StarDisc Website and check out how to get there and all the news:

StarDisc and 9/11:

What is the link between StarDisc and the worst terrorist act on American soil, in history, you may ask?

Many Planes on Gander Airport's Runway after 9/11 - Awakening alchemy

Planes Line Up at Gander after 9/11

Well, when all of those planes were ordered out of the air following the attacks on the twin towers on 9/11/2001, they had to go somewhere and many of them ended up in the small Newfoundland town of Gander, in Canada. This small town opened up its hearts to the 6,700 passengers and crew from 96 countries who suddenly ended up on their doorsteps. Wirksworth resident, Chris Spencer, bound for New York on a Lufthansa flight was one of those 6,700 passengers who ended up in Gander.

Chris always wanted to find a way to thank the people of Gander for their warmth and compassion on that horrible day and when he suggested to Aidan Shingler that he would like to raise funds to gift the town of Gander, a StarDisc, Aidan was thrilled to jump on board.

Chris has said:

“I am just one of the many who received and witnessed the compassion and generosity of the islanders. Although I am agnostic, this extraordinary experience made me understand why people have faith in God, and I now know for sure the existence of angels… they are the gracious people of Gander, Newfoundland, who welcomed us with open arms and provided shelter from the storm… for this, I and fellow stranded passengers and crew have reason to thank our lucky stars and remain forever grateful.”

Chris Spencer

Chris aims to raise £200,000, which will be used to:

  • Lineup of many airlines at Gander Terminal after 9/11 - Awakening Alchemy

    Lineup of Many Airlines at Gander after 9/11

    Commission, ship, construct and launch a StarDisc in Gander for 9/11/2021 (the 20th Anniversary of 9/11)

  • Give thanks to the town and recognise the incredible compassionate humanity of its citizens.
  • Establish a permanent memorial of 9/11
  • Enrich the town’s cultural activities.
  • Support the local economy.
  • Celebrate universal inclusion.

The hope is to raise enough for a full-scale 40ft StarDisc but if funding falls short, either a 21ft, 14ft, or 7ft Micro StarDisc will be sent. A site has already been set aside, by the local council, in Cobb’s Pond Rotary Park.

If you would like to help in the Crowdfunding of the Gander StarDisc please visit: and do watch this video on YouTube:

My Visit to StarDisc:

Jill Hughes Standing Overlooking StarDisc - Awakening Alchemy

The Author at StartDisc

As I mentioned earlier, I went to visit Aidan and StarDisc on 20th December 2019 in celebration of the Winter Solstice. I went up the steep narrow road leaving the village far behind, where Aidan and his tri-pawed, hound dog Benny were waiting for me at the top. The spectacular site is through the silver “Gateway to the Stars” next to a quarry with a wooden viewing gallery and a sign saying “Where Earth meets Sky”. Aidan explained more about the star constellations and I was, as ever, drawn to Sirius (the Dog Star) and was intrigued to see the alignment between Cannis Major. It was fitting that Benny hopped over and had a paw on that one! The Disc itself is magnificent, and Aidan was a most gracious host. He has an incredible knowledge about star systems and constellations in our Northern Hemisphere, and as a StarSeed myself, I was delighted to learn how well his plans were progressing. Aidan appreciated the roses that I had brought as a thank you; both person and place have a wonderful calm and benevolent energy – I urge you to visit. After all, where else can you walk on the stars as opposed to looking at them?

Aidan Shingler and Dog Benny Standiong on StarDisc - Awakening Alchemy

Aidan Shingler and Benny

Following on from my visit to StarDisc I was inspired to go to London’s West End to watch the musical “Come From Away,’’ which tells the story of the diverse mix of 9/11 ‘refugees’ both humans and the animals in the plane’s holds, who ended up in Gander – Chris was one of course – and it features a prayer:

“Make us a channel of your peace. Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light. And where there is sadness, ever joy.’’

Indeed, and this amazing play honours – what was lost, but also we commemorate what was ‘found’……………

‘Somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, you found your heart but left a part of you behind.’

An incredible sentiment in these dark and troubled times, and I can think of no finer tribute to this than a StarDisc for Gander, so please help Aidan and Chris deliver this. Please find a moment to be moved and to contribute to something that is bigger and overarching, and of noble emotions, actions and deeds which unite humanity.

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Prosperity Report Cover: Chinese Hanging Lanterns: Awakening AlchemyYou may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website: which highlight my No.1 Best-selling, Visionary Fiction, “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.Spirit of Prophecy Cover with Readers' Favorite 5-Star Award - Awakening Alchemy

Spirit of Prophecy AudioBook Cover With Awards Displayed - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP: where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy, and bag a big discount!

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under-current: prepare to be swept away.

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

Mustang Banner: Wild Mustangs Running Free - Awakening Alchemy

In a country where currently all sorts of environmental and animal protections are under threat, the plight of the beautiful wild mustangs and burros in the Western USA is becoming starker and more urgent. Three Wild Horses Roaming the Hills - Awakening Alchemy Out there, on the great plains of the old wild-west, there is a tragedy taking place. Just over 100 years ago, more than 2 million mustangs roamed free across the great plains, and now it is estimated that a mere 90,000 wild horses roam the hinterlands of the west and the forests, in a shrinking area that can only logically sustain around 30,000 horses. The number of horses on Sovereign Native American land is unknown but in addition to this, around 45,000 horses are currently held in Government holding facilities costing the U.S. taxpayer significant amounts of money (around 60% of the Interior Department’s program budget). The question has become – what to do with the wild horses?

The Bureau of Land Management’s [BLM] methods of capturing and corralling the wild horses is frankly, unacceptable on the face of it. Using a “gathering process” with low-flying helicopters chasing wild mustangs roaming loose on public lands, they force the horses, out of sheer terror, to run for miles toward designated counting areas, where they are loaded into trucks for delivery to holding facilities. Helicopter Chases a Herd of Wild Horses - Awakening Alchemy Running, at full speed, in abject terror from the helicopters, they break legs, they fall down ravines, mothers get separated from foals – in other words, they are terrorized and terrified by the time they are eventually held, as prisoners. The horses can spend up to three years corralled in these holding facilities until such time as they are adopted – or sold – often to “kill” buyers.

 

“For as long as slaughter-houses exist, there can be no peace.”

Leo Tolstoy (Spirit of Prophecy) 

For many people, these horses have an almost mythological symbolism as an icon of the west, of the creature that allowed the first Europeans to venture further than the American east coast and explore the vast, uncharted areas west of the Mississippi river. Brown and White Apache Mustang Rears on its Hind Legs - Awakening Alchemy Through popular culture, the western horse has been elevated to almost cult status and the mere idea that we should somehow need to cull some 40,000 wild horses is an anathema to many. Given the place, in our popular culture, of the western horse, is it any wonder then that it holds a special place in our hearts and our minds? My novel Spirit of Prophecy features a brown and white painted Apache Mustang who returns [reincarnates] until eons of karmic debt is fully atoned.

Wild Mustangs and Burros:    

The first US Administration to actually address the real problem of the west’s wild horses, was that of Richard Nixon. In 1971 he signed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burro’s Act of 1971, a plan to both protect AND manage wild horses and burros, on public land. The Act required Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect these horses as “living symbols” of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West. Wild Mustangs Run Free Surrounded by Mountains - Awakening Alchemy Although no specific acreage, to be set aside, was mentioned in the Act, an original tract was designated but this is ever shrinking and the water supplies curtailed due to competing commercial interests. The BLM was tasked with maintaining a thriving natural ecological balance between wild horse, populations, wildlife, livestock, and vegetation and to protect the range from deterioration associated with overpopulation. One of the key factors in the Act was the requirement for the land to be available for “multiple use” (i.e. ranchers and farmers, along with horses. This has proven to be one of the most problematic conflicts of this whole scenario.

Three Wild Burros atop a Ridge - Awakening Alchemy

Wild Burros

Just seven years later, though, the Public Rangelands Improvement Act sought to reduce (i.e. euthanize/kill) horses and burros if their population threatened to outgrow the sustainability of the lands they were kept on. Thankfully, despite the legislation, Congress, ever aware of their constituent’s sensitivities, ensured the culling of wild horses could not be implemented, by tightly controlling the budget for such activities. Consequently, the wild horse numbers continued to grow to the numbers mentioned earlier in the article.

The Two Major Problems:

The principal problem facing the mustangs and burros, is frankly, a bureaucratic decision to classify these animals as “exotic” rather than “native”. This is one of the major problems facing the wild mustangs and burros of the west. They are not classified, in the U.S. as truly “wild” i.e. an indigenous species to North America. Rather they are treated akin to “feral weeds” or an exotic species, by most Government organisations responsible for wildlife preservation and management in the U.S. such as the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Bureau of Land Management. When you consider that these organisations are often tasked with protecting and preserving native flora and fauna, it becomes bitingly obvious why the word “native”, as applying to wild mustangs and burros, is so incredibly important.

Two Horses Roam the Range Free - Awakening Alchemy There has been significant palaeontological research to identify the origins of the genus Equus, onto the North American continent. The detailed and often complex biological research is too extensive to include in this blog, however, an excellent article on this, should it interest you, can be found here, on the Animal Welfare Institute’s Website:

Suffice it to say, there are two key elements in deciding whether or not an animal is a native species, or not.

  1. Where it Originated; and
  2. Whether or not it co-evolved with its habitat.

It is clear, from the research, that horses did both, in North America. Although one can argue about different “breeds” there is no scientific grounds for arguing about “species”.

It would appear that the designation of wild horses, by government as feral and non-native is a reflection of a fundamental unwillingness to accept the science of the origin of horses in North America, but more cynically perhaps a cunning method of keeping alive the conflict between two species; wild horses (which the government deems to have no economic value, by law) and commercial livestock, such as cattle (which the government gives great economic value and weight to).

If the wild horses and burros, of the west, were immediately given “native” status under law it would necessitate that a new category of native animal existed which requires management and stewardship.

The other major problem faced by the wild horses and burros, is the yearly shrinking of their habitat and their food/water resources. As humanity demands more and more meat production, the volume of land designated for “wildlife preservation” shrinks, literally by the minute. This insatiable demand for more and more meat for consumption, has led to major ecological disasters the world over. Watch this really eye-opening YouTube video; Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret in About 15 minutes.

The Amazon Rain Forest from Above on Fire - Awakening Alchemy

The Lungs of the World

As I write this, the “lungs of the world”, the Amazon Rainforest, is burning out of control and seemingly the Government of Brazil does not much care. They, it seems, like the Americans, are more worried about the farmer’s incomes and their own short-term political gains than the earth’s long-term protection and survival. Similarly, in South East Asia, large chunks of the once virgin rain forests of Indonesia and elsewhere are being slashed and burned to feed the growing world demand for food, and more particularly animal protein. Simply put, given the problem of climate change and the desertification of large parts of the world’s previously arable land, we are killing our planet two-fold.

  1. By adding to the already overloaded “greenhouse gas” emissions in our atmosphere and
  2. Rapidly destroying the one thing that helps the planet maintain its atmospheric stability – our fast-dwindling rainforests.

Scientists are stating that catastrophic change will actually happen within the next fifteen years. Climate change activist,

Schoolgirl Climate Activist Greta Thunberg with sign announcing she is striking for the Climate - Awakening Alchemy

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg says we cannot continue sweeping the mess under the carpet for someone else to clear up: we are now, under 11 years away from setting off an irreversible chain reaction, so there won’t be a reverse-back point. The extinction rate is up 10,000 times higher than what’s considered normal, with up to 200 species becoming non-existent every day. The time for Denial and Inaction, is all used up, no more ‘solutions’ that simply allow Governments to carry on as before. This is a crisis of building-buying-eating [meat] and consuming too many things. We are standing at the crossroads in history. Woe is us and the living conditions for future generations – unless we act collectively, NOW. The bigger your carbon footprint, the bigger your moral obligation; our CO2 emissions need reducing swiftly by 50% to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees centigrade.

What are the options? (There Are a Few and Every Little Bit Assists)  

  • A Herd of Wild Horses in front of Majestic Mountains - Awakening Alchemy A Change in Designation for Mustangs and Burros: This is not only scientifically sound but morally, it is long past time we gave our greatest ally on earth, the horse, the rights and freedoms it deserves. As a species, we owe them so much to our development through history and yet we continue to treat them, along with the majority of our partners on this planet, with disdain and contempt. Shame on us! Re-designation may not solve the problem of the sheer numbers of wild horses and burros in the West, but it is a mighty fine, first step in the right direction.

 

  • Halting the Destruction of their Habitat: Again, this may not be a very popular political step to take but the reality is, what we need to achieve “ecological balance” on this planet, is to ensure that all our biodiversity is nurtured and allowed to flourish. Enormous Mound of Wasted Food - Awakening Alchemy I know a common refrain to counter this argument is: “but we have to feed ourselves and the rest of the world”. NEWSFLASH: We are not doing that now anyway!!! Research by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation shows us that every single year ONE THIRD of the food we produce is wasted – yes WASTED! Imagine how much less food we would need to produce to feed the world, if we just didn’t waste so much of it. Secondly, we have, as a civilisation, it seems, yet to find a tool or a mechanism to ensure that the excess food we produce can reach those most in need of it (except when the media shows us extreme starvation somewhere in the world and then we are emotionally moved, to act). If food was grown sustainably and responsibly and distribution was equitable, more of the land resource would be available for the plants and animals that we share this beautiful world with.

 

  • Wild Horse Sanctuaries: These are places where wild mustangs can be taken, and still find a useful life on what are colloquially known as “dude ranches”. There are numerous such places across the U.S. but one in particular springs to mind, that is absolutely committed to the concept of “Saving America’s Mustangs”. Entranceway to Mustang Monument Eco-Tourist Resort - Awakening Alchemy Mustang Monument: Wild Horse Eco Resort is located in Wells, Nevada and offers a wide variety of ranch activities, including; Horse-Back Riding Excursions and Wild Mustang Safari Adventures, plus numerous horse and ranch related activities. The most important thing they offer is a guarantee that the proceeds from every stay at Mustang Monument directly benefit “Saving America’s Mustangs” and providing essential care and perhaps most importantly, a voice for these horses. Their mission statement is; “An Unbridled Passion for Change,” and their aim is for visitors to leave Mustang Monument with two things – lifelong memories of an unforgettable vacation, and sharing their vision of a future where Mustangs continue to run free. You can check out their videos here, on their website: Founder Madeleine Pickens has become one of the wild mustang’s most vocal advocates. When, the BLM announced in 2008 that it was considering euthanising or selling 30,000 wild mustangs to overseas slaughter-houses, Madeleine acted quickly and began developing her sanctuary for the horses. Along with developing her Eco-Horse Resort, Madeleine, through her organisation “Saving American Mustangs” has become one of the foremost lobbyists for the wild mustangs, on Capitol Hill. It is through organisations such as this that the wild mustangs still maintain a chance for the future. Those of you who have read my novel Spirit of Prophecy, will recall near the end, that the American Olympic gold medal event rider, Juliet Jermaine, announces her plans to join the fight to save the mustangs. Watch out for this sequel to Spirit of Prophecy, to discover what ensues.

 

  • Enforcing Existing Law: The aforementioned 1971 Act give the BLM all the legal tools to ensure the survival and freedom of the wild mustangs, however, it is the BLM’s practice to use this Act, instead, to manage the herds to point where they will ultimately be eradicated in the future. The BLM has, only half-jokingly been referred to at times, as the Bureau of Livestock and Mining because that it seems is its primary focus for the management of public lands.
    A Fracking Operation Site - Awakening Alchemy

    A Fracking Site

    The reasons why the BLM choose to ignore the plight of the wild horses is not because it is cost-effective to do so but merely because the supposed “rights”; of the States, the farmers, the cattle ranchers, the mining companies and latterly the fracking companies, are considered more important than the needs and rights of the beautiful, wild horses that roam our plains. The horse lobby is using legal challenges to BLM’s decisions and formal plans to try and ensure the horse’s needs are looked after and protected. Organisations such as the Wild Horse Education Organisation support many lawsuits against the BLM, in a number of areas and are regularly winning reprieves for the embattled horses. With an administration hell-bent on destroying existing regulations, and opening up formerly public land for private use, especially mining, drilling and fracking, the issue has become even more fractious and urgent over the past few years. Much effort is being focused on the BLM’s future management plans, being submitted to Congress for funding. These plans, according to many wild horse advocates, spell doom for our embattled, free-running horses. Going forward it looks as if my heroine Juliet will have quite a battle on her hands.

 

  • Greater Advocacy For and Education About, Wild Horses: A Propud Palomino Horse Gallops - Awakening Alchemy Ginger Kathrens is the founder of The Cloud Foundation a non-profit whose initial mission was to prevent the extinction of the herd of wild horses that once contained a particular horse called Cloud. Cloud was a pale-palomino, wild stallion from the Pryor Mountains on the Montana / Wyoming border. Ginger Kathrens had recorded, in documentaries, Cloud’s life, from birth to his presumed death, and had also written three books about Cloud. The foundation is committed to education, media events, and involving the public in both donating to the cause and joining in the foundation’s advocacy for the wild horses. Ginger Kathrens states they care about the welfare of all wildlife and the preservation of the public lands which makes it possible for the wildlife to survive and roam free.

 

  • Birth Control: Suzanne Roy, Director of American Wild Horse Campaign assures us that there is a suitable birth control vaccine called PZP, which is used to control wildlife populations the world over. Horses would only be required to be darted, once a year and they would not get pregnant (and exacerbate the problem). She says; “…but the BLM would rather spend the money on helicopters and government holding facilities. PZP costs just $30 per horse, per year.” Just do the simple math. We currently have 45,000 horses held in Government facilities. At around $1,200 cost per horse per year, to keep and feed, that works out at a cost of $54M to the BLM and rising every year. To inject all the mares in the 90,000 wild horse population (assume 50% are mares) that would equate to 45,000 at $30 per mare, equalling $1.35M. Now, please explain the logic of the BLM – it can really be only one thing. The lobbyists representing the farmers, ranchers, miners, and frackers, are more powerful than the horse lobby. Let’s change this balance- your voice counts. Every single person counts. Humans are an animal species amongst others. It’s time to get passionate, and help the VOICELESS, be heard.

 

  • Horse Adoption: This is another area that has the potential for future development. A Group of Young Horses Corralled Awaiting Adoption - Awakening Alchemy Finding adoptees is not an easy task – just ask any employee who is responsible for the thousands of wild horses already held in Government facilities but with the right support, the political muscle and some good old-fashioned hard work and dedication, it is indeed doable. There are also Government subsidies available for people who adopt wild mustangs, to help in their initial upkeep and management: You can find out more about this program, here:

 

  • Raising Awareness: Some individuals have taken it upon themselves to try to help the wild horses. Ben Masters, along with three of his friends, set up a Kickstarter fundraising project to promote and facilitate “wild horse adoptions”. They created a documentary – “Unbranded”, the trailer of which you can watch, here on YouTube This documentary detailed the four men as they rode through America, from Mexico to Canada through the most backcountry route available. The documentary has been an outstanding success, winning more than two dozen awards and is available through Netflix. All the proceeds from the documentary have been donated to the Mustang Heritage Foundation to fund adoption efforts. What this does prove is that every-day, ordinary, motivated and driven people can make a difference in a world of apathy and egoism.
  • The Availability and Development of Meat/Dairy Replacements: the arguments often put forward against reducing our intake of meat protein are many – “MANY PEOPLE LOVE THE TASTE! or IT’s CHEAP!” Not ecologically though, or in terms of improving domestic animal welfare – for instance dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated, then their calves are snatched away from them, just to create milk for our cereal bowls – why, when there are lots of great tasting alternatives- soya/oat/coconut etc, for instance? The development of meat substitutes is still in its commercial infancy but its importance to our future survival becomes more apparent as each year passes.
    Fake Beef Incorporated in a Burger - Awakening Alchemy

    If it looks like beef, smells like beef and tastes like beef, then it is BEEF

    A commitment to this technology (both politically and economically) and the realisation that we cannot keep taking more and more land from native creatures for food production, will quickly lead us to the point where “fake” meat is both mass producible, economically sustainable, and consumer palatable. As a vegan, I see this as one way to change people’s diets away from meat, and to foods that are ecologically more sustainable. This would allow more land to be rewilded, considerably reduce greenhouse gases – the meat production industry is one of the biggest causes of CO2 emissions, and significantly reduce animals being breed, with short, low-value life spans simply to satisfy the food chain and human taste buds. Better still, of course, ditch meat and dairy; eat a little fake meat food and switch to a wholefood plant- based diet. As Greta Thunberg says:

“No one is too small to make a difference.”

You as an individual, simply by changing your diet will wake others up too = awesome!

  • Training Wild Horses: Many captured wild horses can be trained for specific purposes – Some horses can be repurposed into such varied roles as; pleasure horses, law-enforcement horses, veterinary teaching hospital horses, or for therapeutic riding programs for “at-risk” or challenged individuals.

There are two diametrically opposed schools of thought when it comes to dealing with the wild horse issue. On one side of the debate we have the ecologists, ranchers and range-managers, while on the other side, a vocal and powerful horse lobby. The ecologists’ argument is that the overpopulated wild horse population continue to do irreversible damage to the fragile desert ecosystems. Wild Horse advocates, however, argue that sheep and cattle don’t belong on public land and should be reduced to allow the horses to forage successfully, and not have to compete with domesticated farm animals – public land should be for wild animals, is their argument. Adding to the complex equation are general wildlife conservation organizations who believe neither horses nor livestock have a right to public land which should be totally reserved for native species such as bison, bighorn, sage grouse, pronghorn, mule deer, and other “native” animals. (This argument would be greatly watered down if the Mustangs and Burros were granted “Native” species designation, of course.]

A Vegan Plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs

Vegan Food IS NOT Boring

We need to arrive at a time when the American government will take away rancher’s and farmer’s leases for long-term agriculture in favor of wild (some, especially politicians, say mongrel) horses to allow them to roam free. The current administration seems hell-bent on releasing more and more public land for private sector use, which can only reduce even further the grazing land available for these animals. Go vegan and reduce the commercial demand for meat and thereby help swing the balance the other way. End speciesism.

As individuals who care about the plight of the wild horses of the West, we have a duty to join, support and donate to the many fine wild-horse advocate organizations, some of which I’ve mentioned in this article. Where it is an option, for you, please consider adopting a wild horse – they are beautiful, powerful, creatures who deserve the right to a decent and as natural as possible, life. I would also urge you to educate yourself more on the needs of our wild horses and to get actively involved in the advocacy campaigns – write to your representative, your senator – in fact anyone who will listen, but most of all, don’t allow our heritage to die and be forever lost.

In Conclusion:

Before we leave this contentious topic today, I would just like to give you a quote, which I believe sums up the importance, the beauty and the love we hold, in our heart for horses.

A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.”

Pam Brown

The horse, more than any other animal in history, has shaped our past, our present and hopefully, our future. Since we first tried to domesticate wild horses around 3,000 BCE, the horse has made many of our giant leaps forward in technology, transport, agriculture and communication possible. Two Horses Draw a Plough with a Farmer - Awakening Alchemy Without the horse and its amazing contribution to our heritage, man’s evolution would have been slower, harder, and less enjoyable. But, most of all, the horse is a loving, loyal, beautiful creature that deserves our love, our respect, and most of all, our care and concern, especially when no longer “useful” to us in their primary role. We owe it to them, to our ancestors and to our grandchildren yet to come to care for and nurture a being that has meant so much to us over the eons.

And as we ponder about the magnificent Mustangs, please spare a thought for the plight of all the animals in the domestic food chain – pigs/sheep/cattle/chickens and so on, because they too feel pain and experience love also. Witness the terror in their eyes, on occasions, and accept that they desperately need our utmost compassion as well.

That concludes, for now, our focus on the wonderful animals that surround us and daily surprise us with their intellect, their understanding, and their warmth. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this series, as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you.

And now… for Something Completely Different      

Artist's Depiction of an Angel Backgrounded Against the Sky - Awakening Alchemy Soon, we begin a brand-new series, fluttering above, yet only a little removed from the sentient animals here, who after all bring love, joy, and often are repaid with suffering. The next few blogs will focus on something we’ve probably all heard of, but very few have actually encountered or even know much about – ANGELS!

You won’t want to miss that, so I’ll see you up in the clouds, next week.

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Prosperity Report Cover: Chinese Hanging Lanterns: Awakening AlchemyYou may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

 

Spirit of Prophecy Cover with Readers' Favorite 5-Star Award - Awakening Alchemy Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website which highlights my No.1 Best-selling, Visionary Fiction, “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.

 

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP: where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a SoundCloud taster so you can try before you buy, and bag a big discount!

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under-current: prepare to be swept away.

 

 

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

Hiorse Whispers Banner: closeup of Woman Talking to a Horse - Awakening Alchemy

Horses often communicate relying on their eyes and their very large and mobile ears, which they use to signal to other horses where to direct their attention, in order to locate food or to evade predators. Grey Horse With Head Leaning Over Fence - Awakening Alchemy Horses are social animals living in large groups and they are also prey animals – so, young foals learn how to stand up soon after birth and how to run with the herd by following mom’s lead. Horses feel emotion without too much rationalizing. They understand us and scientists say that they pick up on our moods from our facial expressions and tone of voice, similar to dogs. Experienced riders know how to pay attention to their horses’ ears in order to help determine what their horse is thinking/feeling. Equally important in the equine vocabulary is tail position – as you can see from the diagram.

Diagram of a Horse's 9 Tail Positions - Awakenong Alchemy As you can see the hunched / clamped tail position very clearly indicates a tense / anxious, individual and to other horses, this signals submission. A flicking tail may simply be practically swatting flies away or if the swishing is vigorous, accompanied by lifting a hind leg and at the other end the teeth are bared, this indicates anger, feeling threatened and is intended to ward invaders away! Aggression in horses involves biting, kicking, rearing, and striking out with a foreleg, however, this is more common under domestic conditions where there is competition over resources – food / water / shelter. Generally, in wild herds, apart from a new stallion approaching the herd or a mare defending her foal, horses do not go out of their way to exert dominance, instead they try to avoid conflict, so when threatened by a stronger opponent a horse will depart, holding its head low with its tail tucked in. Horses interact with one another mainly on bilateral levels that include all members of the group and not according to a rank order. An incorrect belief that the person handling and training a horse must be in a top position of a dominance hierarchy [ i.e. an alpha position, being a leader] may have a negative effect on the horse, compromising its welfare and can trigger fear, resulting in avoidance behavior – particularly when the desire to dominate encourages and involves the application of punishment.  To discover more about calm and consistent training principles which are infinitely preferable,  and to enhance horse welfare and improve the horse-rider relationship please check out the International Society for Equitation Science – Learning Theory in Equitation.

Horses Communicating Preferences

It was previously believed that only dolphins and apes could learn how to communicate their preferences e.g. by pointing at symbols but a study in 2016, by scientists from the Norwegian Vet Institute, shows that this applies to horses too.

How was this accomplished?

Three boards used to train horses ot recognise symbols - Awakenng Alchemy The horses [a total of 23] were trained, using carrots, to approach a board on a fence. Then how to tell the difference between three symbols:  ____ for [blanket on] and | for [blanket off] as well as a blank board for [no change]. The scientists also used hot and cold temperatures to help the horses differentiate.

The speed of learning varied from horse to horse but after 2 week’s training, all 23 were able to go to the board to indicate, rug on or off, and express their own preferences. They tended to request ON when it was wet, windy, or cold and OFF when mild, dry, or warm. The study was published in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal and Karen McComb, professor of animal behavior and cognition at the University of Sussex said;

‘This is a really interesting, innovative study that has conceived a very novel way of getting at what is going on in the mind of a horse.”

Horses and Humans

Wild West Mustangs Grazing Free - Awakening Alchemy The adoption of the horse was one of the single most important discoveries for early human societies. Horses and other animals were used to pull wheeled vehicles, chariots, carts, and wagons with horses increasingly being used for riding, in the Near East, from at least 2000BCE onwards. The relationship between man and horse, involving workers, farmers, kings, and enthusiasts has been evolving for centuries. However, horse meat is still eaten in around 22 countries and indeed beef eaters in the UK were horrified to learn that some of the beef in their food was, in fact, horse meat – Britain like the US generally has an aversion to this, indeed in the Wild-West, horses became a sort of mythological creature in American National consciousness. Horses, like cats and dogs, are considered as companions and pets but definitely not food. My novel Spirit of Prophecy features a painted American Apache horse called Espiritus, who reincarnates as Totem, a top event horse who was unwittingly exported for slaughter, whilst his owner Juliet Jermaine was away competing. In this extract Juliet is on a lunch date with the Irish hero, Tommy Rafferty. Juliet has just shared the guilt that she feels and describes how Totem’s tortured screams haunt her dreams:

She thought of Chateaubriand, red and bloody on some French Madame’s plate, and shivered with revulsion. “The French eat horses,” she moaned. And she pushed her food away untouched.

“They do, that be right. But, let’s not think of that now, can you think of a nation more sentimental about horses than the Irish? I mean, for us, horses are in the blood. Petting, betting, buying and selling. Oh, and art of course. Don’t you be worrying about the French.”

Spirit of Prophecy EBook Cover with Readers' Favorite 5 Star Badge - Awakening Alchemy Note, in the paragraph above the word “use,” is also contained in “abuse,” and it is well overdue for humanity to become fully aware that animals – all animals are sentient beings; they feel love, fear, pain, just like us and at a soul level they are certainly not “lower beings.”

In fact, like Leo Tolstoy, a staunch vegetarian and the author of War and Peace stated:

“As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields.”

He wrote in one of his journals:

“You must treat animals as well as people, the way you’d like to be treated.”

So, he clearly values the lives of animals, and by implication there is nothing to justify harming animals, being apathetic about their abysmal welfare, or eating them for that matter – it is no longer a genuine necessity. Perhaps a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is necessary to free humanity from violence?

Beef Farmer saves his cows from the SlaughterhouseWatch Jay Wilde, former organic beef  farmer doing his bit. 

On an equally uplifting note, you can’t fail to be moved and inspired by the love between humans and beautiful equines when you watch: “The Horse – My Horse and Me – What’s your Horse Story?” Martin Clune, the British actor and chairman of The British Horse Society conveys the tender beauty, admiration, and respect that exists between him and his horse.

Chocolate Coloured Pony in amongst brish - Awakening Alchemy The story of my horses, [Red and Henry] and me, is one about how I came to believe in Reincarnation and Karma and as noted earlier here, that became the central theme in my novel Spirit of Prophecy.

My first pony was called Chocolate who transitioned over the rainbow-bridge some years ago. More recently, I had an Angel reading and asked, why had Chocolate returned as Jester [my daughters (formerly) first pony]? What message did he have for us, and what did he have to teach us?

Angel Raphael replied:

“In a previous lifetime he was a being who was silenced. His passion is inter-species communication.”

After the reading, I pondered a while and took this as a nudge from the universe that I should go see Jester and his new loan family, together with an Animal Communicator [the amazing Rebekah, who can be contacted at Paw Prints (Animal Communication and Healing)], so that he would have the opportunity to speak through her.

Connection via an animal communicator (a silent, telepathic communication that works via deepened intuition) which is covered in an earlier blog post, is both awesome, and exciting. The sessions were videoed and will form a series on my: Jill Hughes Author, YouTube channel, called: The Pony Escaping the Story.

Would you like to find out what Jester had to say? Drop us a line at support@moneymagnet.global and we’ll let you know when the video has been edited and posted to YouTube.

Have you ever heard of the Wilhelm Scream?

Odds are, if you are involved in the film industry, you absolutely know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, well, like me, it’s all-new, fascinating and perhaps even just a little bit weird. Let me enlighten you.

ThJohn Wayne on a Horse: Pointing a Colt 45 - Awakening Alchemy e “Wilhelm Scream” has become one of those almost mythical icons of Hollywood. It is a stock sound-effect that has been used in over 400 films and TV Series since it was first recorded in 1951, for the Western film, Distant Drums. It is frequently used when someone is shot, falls from a great height or is blown backward in an explosion. Examples of the Wilhelm Scream can be found in any numbers of blockbuster movies down through the ages, including the Indiana Jones franchise, many Disney movies and most notably, Star Wars. The name Wilhelm Scream comes from a character, Private Wilhelm, who uses it in a 1953 Western, The Charge at Feather River, when he is shot in the thigh by an arrow.

So, what exactly does this scream sound like? Check it out here on this YouTube video:

White Horse Neighing - Awakening Alchemy In the spirit of the Wilhelm Scream, De Wolfe Music, suppliers of sound-effects and music to Hollywood have decided to allow a previously unknown horse to achieve its own form of cinematic immortality. Partnering with Equilab (an app. and social network for equestrians) they ran a competition where users of the app. recorded a short snort, neigh, or snicker and submitted it for judging. This could all be done via the Equilab App. The closing date for entry of a horse’s wonderful “words” was September 1st, 2019, so it will be amazing to discover which horse’s vocabulary could be immortalized, forever, as part of Hollywood legend. Horses communicating indeed!

The initiative was supported by Redwings (the U.K.’s leading horse charity).

Redwings’ Nic de Brauwere stated they had loved this project and added; “horses use a variety of noises which, when combined with body language communicate a wide range of emotions. But when it comes to the big screen an image of a horse is usually only accompanied by a classic neighing sound and often in situations where the horse would be unlikely to make that noise anyway.”

He noted that at their horse sanctuary they observe the many ways horses communicate with each other and with humans on a daily basis. It will be good to highlight, especially to Hollywood and the movie audiences there is a much richer selection of horse communication to help portray a more realistic view of our beloved four-legged friends.

About Redwings UK:

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Corporate Logo (Black and Red Horse) - Awakening Alchemy Redwings Horse Sanctuary care for over 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules every day at sites across the UK. The charity, which is 100% funded by donations, rescues equines from neglect or abuse and gives them a safe, “forever home” at the Sanctuary. The charity’s own highly skilled veterinary and behaviour teams provide the expert rehabilitation and specialist care its rescued residents need. Horses capable of living outside of the Sanctuary’s paddock fences are given the training to help them find loving, new homes, as part of Redwings’ rehoming scheme.

American Wild Horse Campaign:

American Wild Mustangs Roaming a Sunset Plain - Awakening Alchemy For Americans and something closer to home, consider the plight of the wild Mustangs. Google: Unwanted Horses of the West. Rescuing and repatriating them is going to be the central theme of my next novel, the sequel to Spirit of Prophecy when Olympic event rider Juliet Jermaine is moved to buy a ranch……………….

It is also my intention that next week’s blog will highlight and champion the terrible fate that has befallen these magnificent animals – so do keep reading

If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues, plus lots more besides, please share it with your friends and family, or do join our website and you’ll receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you’ve enjoyed what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Prosperity Report Cover: Chinese Hanging Lanterns: Awakening Alchemy You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Spirit of Prophecy EBook Cover with Readers' Favorite 5 Star Badge - Awakening Alchemy Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website: which highlight my No.1 Best-selling, Visionary Fiction, “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP: where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy, and bag a big discount!

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under-current: prepare to be swept away.

Spirit of Prophecy Recipe with Wicca Symbols - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

Banner Featuring Two Ants Communicating and an Ant Shaped Crop Circle - Awakening Alchemy

The ANT crop circle which appeared in Sparticles Wood, near Netherme-on-the-Hill, Surrey, UK appeared on the Solstice, June 21st, 2019, which connects to the strong Sirius 8:8 energy gateway, that offers the possibility of renewal as we move into a new season in our lives.

Geometrically Designed Crop Circle in Wheat: Cube - Awakening Alchemy Crop circles are a world-wide phenomenon increasing in number and complexity from the 1970s to date, and particularly in the UK, where they are quite prevalent in Wiltshire,  [there’s even a Crop Circle Information Centre] nearby, and around Avebury, Stonehenge – the ley-lines of sacred sites and beyond. Some of them are being revealed as having been created solely by humans, even a sixth- grade class created quite a wonderful one in France recently. Generally, it’s debated whether they are either hoaxes [man-made], caused by obscure natural causes, or Extra-Terrestrial/Supernormal activity – and, guess what? The jury is still out, although I hope to illuminate a little after my visit to Sparticles Wood.

Many Crop Circles supposedly have a frequency of other-worldliness and a perfection beyond what we can currently create with planks and measuring devices. They feel as if the imprint of them was already in the crops and they just arose when it was time, released from Inner Earth in a magical but organic way. They have a geometric [Sacred Geometry – which is also deemed to be a method of deep non-verbal communication at soul level] elegance too, and a sense of communication, a message that you can tap into, a conversation that you can join. This supports the unknown/obscure Natural Causes or E.T./Supernormal theories.

Take a look at the crop circle video here: courtesy of Hampshire Flyer.

What do you think? What does this convey to you?

Some visitors claim that you can feel the galactic transmission energies beamed in from the beyond. UFO followers say the Crop Circles are made by visiting spacecraft when they touch down. Indeed, there are internet posts channelling messages from Ashtar, purportedly a UFO Captain and Star Being from the Arcturian Federation, who claims to have created the Ant crop circle to support us here on Earth with our spiritual Ascension. This movement is well underway now in the Age of Aquarius.

More on this anon, but in alignment with our series about animal communication, how do ants communicate? Check out this Youtube video, from BrainStuff -How StuffWorks: Are Ants better communicators than you?

PS: Please note that the said ants would not be making a trek to nab my roast beef panini at any given picnic, as I’m vegan. So, if that’s your fav sarnie-to-steal = sorry little guys, time to scarper elsewhere!

Collection of Fire Ants Swarming on Cooked Rice - Awakening Alchemy

Fire Ants on Rice

Ants communicate using pheromones (chemical scent signals), perceiving smells through long mobile antennae, and they also feel and touch – they don’t have ears and have poor vision, but they are very sensitive to vibrations via receptors in their legs. Each ant colony has a unique smell, so members can recognise one another and sniff out intruders.

It occurs to me that this could come in very handy for us if, in fact, ET’s arrived [in full force with fanfare and lights ablaze – probably as holograms, which would appear pretty real and fool/distract most of us – since many claim they are in fact already here – quietly mingling amongst us or preoccupied in underground bases as they indeed have been for a long time] So at some future point – when we are primed and ready – “They” with our Governments’ involvement, of course – reveal themselves. Right now, I’m thinking of a stage magician pulling a white rabbit out of a hat….

Star Being Ashtar Waving at us - Awakening Alchemy

Ashtar

Meanwhile, I circle back to the dear Star Being Ashtar: who goes on to explain why he and his chums from many other Cosmic nations, [these supposedly friendly and benevolent ET’s] have come here to help us and left us a message via the ANT Crop circle they claim to have created. He explains that some Star Beings look like insects and if they appeared to us here on Earth that could be scary and may evoke Fear and negative responses. [True if they drop in as SPIDERS, I’d be fine, but my kids would run a mile! Screaming all the while.]

My Comment: So, is this just a softening-up exercise to get us used to different-than/to-human forms before they initiate some planned First Contact protocol? Personally, I  reckon it’s so, and I would not trust this particular channel – however, we may find some real gold, hidden amongst the fool’s stuff. Just always remember to check in with your intuition and see what resonates and what red flags pop up.

Ashtar: You could say this is designed to awaken relationships with ants, and Ant Beings, as it will increase interest them, and there will be more traffic and searches looking for information.

My Comment: True, I’ve been on a Googling mission too and my pinkies are aching now.

Ashtar: Since we do not like to scare people and ant beings simply are a little scary for most humans.

My Comment: As I suspected, it is a softening-up exercise then, designed to get us onside. There are a multitude of New Age Spiritual channels out there in the ethers, many claiming to be connecting with Star Beings, who appear to be all singing from the same Intergalactic hymn sheet –Female Star Being Posed in Front of Space - Awakening Alchemy ‘We come in LOVE and LIGHT to help you, humanity to Ascend to higher dimensions, and to become ONE with Source…and so on.” And, this is a very seductive message for many who wish to feel accepted/connected and have a sense of belonging. I would counter – that there are NEGATIVE and POSITIVE beings in all/most dimensions [certainly where FORM/MATTER is involved] so it is essential to be very selective and careful about allowing ANY channelled energies in. Think carefully – and if you go ahead – always protect and ground yourself – however great these energy transmissions [that you usually get charged for] make you feel – it may be a fake/synthetic “high” designed to get you hooked, or worse a switch to turn off your positive energy, and substitute manipulated draining stuff. The Channeler may be very loving, and lovely, but they may not realise that they are being manipulated in order that truth seekers can be indoctrinated. So, I’d say this: “All those on a New Age spiritual journey please stay awake, keep your wits about you – above all be DISCERNING and like the ant, learn to trust your gut, your intuition and sniff out the kin-folk vs the intruders.”

Ashtar: Like the Ants, we are all working together for a Common good.

A Packed UN General Assembly Hall - Awakening Alchemy

U.N. General Assembly Hall

My Comment: Great, only is it our [humanity’s] common good, or theirs? Is pure benevolent assistance really their intention? If so, what is the as-yet-undisclosed AGENDA? What’s in it for them and who are they ultimately working for? Unlike ants, our politicians and world leaders have rarely worked together, in the past, for the common good but maybe there’s a bigger NEW FUTURE plan to flip this and get us to buy into ONE WORLD LEADERSHIP with the UNITED NATIONS as the UNIFYING force. Of course peace / love / and harmony sounds awesome doesn’t it? But how long will it last, what price are we paying and where will it ultimately lead us? There will be dues to be paid, and it may be you trade your Freedom and Free Will for comfort, security and an initially easy ride, but is that really a fair price, particularly if you aren’t told the real terms [a bit like the reams of hidden / movable small print in an insurance contract?] when you sign up. Remember FREE WILL has to be respected, you can simply say “No Thanks,” and opt-out.

A Swarm of Ants Collecting Forest Detritus - Awakening Alchemy Back to a bit more about how ants communicate. Well, they communicate danger by sending off “Alarm” pheromones to tell other ants; danger, prepare for an attack. A colony of ants has a collective brain as large as many mammals. Even though it is very small, the ant is very strong and can accomplish amazing feats of strength when many of them come together for a common purpose and goal. Similar to those on a mission to change the world, to move out of 3D consciousness, to ascend into your sacred human frequencies, which is a challenging transformation.

Just because the ant is common, its power and specialness can often be overlooked. Like YOUR unique attributes can be as well. Here the ANT crop circle reminds us of the strength, patience, determination and great communication skills that the ant offers as a mirror for these qualities in us too.

Interestingly, the ants have a predominantly female hierarchy [Divine Feminine] The ant reminds you that you cannot do it alone, they are very social animals.

Portrayal of the Orion Nebula

Orion Nebula

You will need each other. Some spiritual/mythological researchers claim that the Queen of the Universes resides in Orion, in a hive/colony-like organisation, and that she created the Earth as a Living Library, a glorious creative experiment which got hi-jacked [by her elder son after he repeated less than positive behaviours, so eventually she promoted his younger brother over him] and it has since gone “a little” awry. Queen ants live some 30 years, females 1-3 years as workers – feeding the larvae, cleaning and taking out the trash, foraging for supplies and defending the nest. Unfertilised eggs develop as males and have a limited life span. Indeed, a few ant species are all cloned and hence all female. Additionally, there are winged sexuals who fly off to mate and start a new colony.

This also fits into the “Orion Queen” interpretation of the Universe, and how she, being the ultimate SOURCE, goes forth and creates new planets, life forms, star systems, constellations and so forth, as she did with Earth. Apparently, we on Earth are limited to perceiving only 4% of the Multiverse [until we collectively raise our vibration] and the rest [the VOID/Darkness] the 96% is teeming with very diverse life forms. Also, what we’ve learned about ants, seems to fit what some Channelers are being told about how the Star Beings affairs across the Galaxies have been playing out throughout the eons. Seemingly there have been some big Inter-Galactic wars with Negative rebels forming an Alien Invasion Force, flying or nano-transporting, and capturing/taking over other planets [including Earth], other star systems, and even entire vast galaxies. All very “Star Wars” – with the Galactic Federation trying to get things back on track and/until The Empire Strikes Back – albeit we are advised that Orion is not war-like [now] but will fight back to defend her empire if attacked. This is true of Queen ants too – they have one main job: to procreate, however, if there are other potential queens around, she scales back on productivity so that she has more energy for the fighting power required to defend her colony.

Aerisal Photo of Ant shaped Nasca Lines in Peru - Awakening Alchemy

Nasca Lines – Peru

The ANT Crop circle communicates this to me: the desirability of selectively joining together for the common welfare of our species, motivated by a joyous vision of what life on Gaia could become, and return to once again. This is driven by the desire to end the suffering of ALL sentient beings. Inspired by our beautiful, diverse planet and assisting Her consciousness, returning to complete harmony with ours. Focused on healing the fear, separation, isolation that LIVES in our DNA, our heart, and our souls.

Ants, like many ET’s, do not have complex [e.g. love, anger, grief, shame, compassion, empathy, etc] emotions like us, but they do approach things they find pleasant [non-vegan sarnies for instance, ha-ha] and avoid the unpleasant. Also like many ET’s particularly the negative sorts, they are motivated by survival, procreation, defending the queen and the colony, so if their home / nest gets overcrowded, low on resources, or even destroyed, they’ll be off looking for new territory. In this respect, Ashtar’s remarks about visiting Earth are quite revealing. If it piques your curiosity, maybe do a bit of research.

Inspiration can come from the smallest, and most common of sources, such as our ant family creatures. Going forward, we can elect to sign-up for increased AI, life-span extension in a cyborg body, or we can scale down our Smart Phone use, disconnect from mainstream media and focus on positive and uplifting stuff, say no to the potential incoming Machine Age, and yes to more fully reconnecting with nature again. All future realities can be changed with sufficient focus, intention, and elevated vibration. Tune into your soul’s contribution to this mission. Feel and heal the fears to BE in commUNITY that come from this life, birth family experiences, also from other timelines and dimensions too.

Artist's Rendition of Mother Earth/Gaia - Awakening Alchemy

Mother Earth / Gaia

Ants teach us about the importance of the Divine Feminine energy – Mother Earth or Gaia is Divine Feminine energy, some would say that the SOURCE is also Divine Feminine, but ultimately, of course, the imbalances of thousands of years of patriarchal influence, now really need to be redressed at last, so that male and female energies are balanced and working together. I tend to feel that SOURCE/Universal Absolute is neither male nor female, but transcends gender, and is impersonal which I believe accords with Vedic Vaishnava Advaita teachings, albeit there are many male and female gods in Hinduism generally. In the early Christian Nag Hammadi Gnostic gospel scrolls, found in Egypt in 1945, the Gnostics also believed that God is both male and female, which makes some sense from the perspective of Divine Unity.

Law of Divine Oneness on Starlit Background - Awakening Alchemy As you join in community with compassion and feeling Joy, you can feel your TRUE strength as amplified and supported by all those around you returning again to Oneness and to Divine LOVE. The benevolent Star Beings and the growing number of positive-focused humans, along with similarly inclined sentient beings have the power to imagine a better world, just imagine what it would look like, the sounds, the smells and above all [since feelings are the language of the Soul] what it will feel like. Then the power of collective higher consciousness can lift the positive and your new future reality can soar. The messages of Ant Crop Circle were really multi-layered,then? Awesome!

Postscript:

Breaking News : Yes, I went to visit the Crop Circle, on Friday 9th August, armed with Ord. Survey Map – and these are huge and very difficult to ‘read’ unless you’re a boy/girl/both/either – scout, or otherwise averagely intelligent [der, which seemingly I’m not as I deffo didn’t pass the orientation badge task!] plus Vegan picnic to ward off multi-legged friendly or otherwise invaders. [BTW – how many legs do ants have – erm is it 6 or what?] Anyway after many phone calls back and forth, my friend calls me again and I pull over [no hands-free, der – don’t do technology – the on/off switch is an achievement, I reckon].

“So has the farmer given permission for us to go look at this? It’s on private land you realise?” she asks.

“Erm, dunno. It’s not marked as open to access for the public, but then it’s not access denied either.”  We’ll just wing-it as is usual in my neck of the woods, and hope for the best, I conclude.

This clearly is not cutting it. “And do you even know if it’s still there? Have you checked?”

I’m thinking, oh, hang about let me just get the light aircraft out and do a quick fly-over, eh?  But instead I say, “How do I know? I’m a Crop-ie newbie.”

“Really,” she sighs, “you haven’t done any proper research have you?”

With that, we are intentionally or otherwise disconnected. The Universe does indeed work in mysterious ways.

Anyway, folks, we got there – it was up a long windy rural single-track road, behind Starbucks – obviously a key ET navigation satellite marker, this. Or refuelling stop for crews of plank-bearing human-hoaxers, perhaps? We only got lost twice and parked facing a big crop field next to a white van. Ravenous by now we tucked into said picnic, washed down by mini cans of Karma Cola [how cool is that? Well actually not very, but it did the trick.] Anyway, my friend wonders what we will do if the gun-wielding farmer chases us and runs us off his land?

I ponder on this and say, “Well, of course I’ll protect you and try reason with him.”

“Huh, well good luck, I’m not hanging around for that.”

Man Nordic Walking in Forest - Awakening Alchemy So, I conclude it is everyone for themselves out here, then? The Ant Unity message fell on deaf ears perhaps? Indeed, as a gentleman of advancing years came Nordic-walking past us and striding up the field ahead, I sprang out of the car and sprinted [yes, sprinted] after him, shouting, to no avail. Then with a further speed burst, I catch up and tug on his rucksack strap. Poor gentleman nearly leaps out of his skin, but at least removes his earphones.

“Hi sorry – sorry. We’re looking for the crop circle. Have you seen it?” 

Human Encounter #1: He shakes his head and carries on. Out in nature, but listening to music, so oblivious and perfectly distracted and disconnected.

Off to the right a large flock of birds circles ominously. The wind is picking up. Gunshots echo and reverberate as I hop back into the car.

“See, I told you- the farmer has a gun!”  my friend says. “Mind you the way you set off after that hiker, maybe you could outrun him after all, Jill.”

We both laugh, finish eating, pack up, then venture out into the field in search of – something. After a while a figure approaches, arms pumping as he strides down the hill. He is in army camouflage combat gear, with a walkie-talkie and a rifle.

Human Encounter#2: Against my friend’s instructions, I ask him if he’s seen the crop circle. He looks at me as if I’m crazy and shakes his head.

We walk a long way around two huge fields and find a water tower thing, except it’s not; we joke that it must be the ET refuelling tank, who knows. On our way back to the car as we walk down the hill, an off-road vehicle approaches at speed.

“The farmer, now we’re for it,” my companion groans.

Human Encounter #3: I flag him down – if anyone will know it’s him surely – and I am a woman-on-a-mission after all. He winds his window down, like you do, and I notice there’s a little one in the back, but he’s not the farmer and no he’s hasn’t seen any crop circle.

Curious, I ask him where this track leads to.

“Nowhere, I’m just driving around.”

On private land with a baby on board – that’s a bit weird, I’m thinking. However, perhaps this human could read my thoughts?

He says, “did you notice though that the fields have all been cut? So, that crop circle of yours… well, chances are, it’s disappeared – oh – around 10 days ago.”

Two Women Walking Through a Wheat Field - Awakening Alchemy Hmmm – really? Humans eh? Who can figure THEM out? Since the Crop Circle had disappeared, this experience still remains on the Bucket-List, and I can’t comment on the energy, the origin or whatever – so the jury’s still out. But just to say, had a fab day full of joy and laughter with my good friend and that’s ultimately what the journey is all about!

We will be continuing the Animal Communication theme for the month of August, so do keep reading. If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues, plus lots more besides, please share it with your friends and family, or do join our website and you’ll receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Cover For Prosperity Report: Chinese Lanterns - Awakening AlchemyYou may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Spirit of Prophecy Cover: Silver Death Mask - Awakening AlchemyMaybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website which highlight my No1 Best-selling Visionary Fiction “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening Alchemy

 

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP  where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy, and bag a big discount!

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under current: prepare to be swept away.

SOP Think It, Believe It, Do It, Banner - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Fire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Tiger on a Power Animals Banner - Awakening Alchemy

Graphic Showing Twisted Universe - Awakening Alchemy As you know, this blog series is broadly titled Awakening Alchemy. It is our hope that some of the topics we cover in this blog may awaken the inherent spiritual side that resides in all of us. Our goal is to open your mind to the incredible possibilities that are happening all around us, right now, on planet Earth. The old, tired paradigms are being swept away, as science and especially quantum physics, begins to illuminate the true nature of matter, of consciousness and of spirit. Many of the old philosophies, and beliefs are again coming to the fore, as science begins to show us there is much more to this Universe than that which we can see, feel and touch. We are celestial beings that harbor greatness inside of each and every one of us. It is my dharma to spark some of that interest, excitement and questioning nature within the readers of this blog.

Today we will be exploring an old, traditional, tribal belief of Shamanic origin, known as “Power Animals”

What Are Power Animals:

Broadly speaking a power animal is a concept that has come down to us from Shamanistic teachings and worship. Shamanism is a practice that evolved in Asia, especially Mongolia and Siberia and over time spread to North and South America, as well as parts of Africa. Shamanism involves reaching an altered state of consciousness (often using natural hallucinogens, meditation, and ritual chanting) that allows the Shaman to interact with the spirit world and then channel these spirits and energies into the physical world.

Shaman Dancing Around Fire - Awakening Alchemy For most of us westerners, the idea of Shamanism is perhaps that which we have had portrayed to us on the silver screen, as the idea of “medicine men”, especially as it relates to the early Native American tribes. Essentially this is true, and shamanism is still practiced routinely, and ritually in many places, especially in the Northern Asian areas of Mongolia and Siberia.

The concept of the power animal is one that is Universal across many cultures. You can perhaps think of power animals as being spirit guides that help protect us as individuals but also our ancestral lineage and that which is still to come, as well as nations, as a whole.  

To the Shaman, everything is alive and connected to us. Everything contains a unique wisdom, power and virtue. Power Animals are said to embody our individual qualities of character, morality, and our most personal inner thoughts and being. We all have experienced the love and bonding that we can create and nurture with living animals (see last week’s blog on Animal Communication: )

What shamanism teaches us is that we can have the same deep love, bonding and respect, on a higher consciousness level, with our power animals. Shamanism contends that every person has a power animal(s) inside of them. They act as protectors to us and guard us against illness as well as imparting some of their inherent skills and wisdom to us. For example, the Hawk spirit will lend you some of the skills and wisdom of the hawk.

Different Types of Power Animals:

Frontal Picture of Owl on Branch - Awakening Alchemy There are absolutely no set rules as to what animals can be power animals. They certainly don’t have to be mammals and can just as easily be reptiles, insects, birds, or sea creatures. If it lives, then it can be a power animal. In this vein, even plants and trees can serve as spirit guides. One thing to note, however, domesticated animals are generally not considered to be power animals because they are already acting in service to mankind. What the experts say is that you should always keep an open mind when looking at power animals. Try not to associate or “lock in” certain characteristics to an animal e.g. Lion is fierce and courageous. All animals have attributes that we, as humans, may not even be aware of until we bond, communicate and share with them.

What is truly important is that we honour and value our power animals. In the Western-Judaic culture we have been taught that animals were put here for our exclusive use and that we have dominion over them. This is an attitude we must let go of. Animals are at least our equals, add greatly to our lives and the world around us, have gifts to offer us and are deserving of gratitude, love and respect. Think of it this way – your power animal is giving up his/her independence and mobility to spend its time with you. It is a selfless act and by your honouring and valuing that act, the connection you have with your power animal can only deepen and grow.

China Collectible Leopard Knick Knack - Awakening Alchemy A couple of ways of honouring your power animal are to regularly thank him/her for being there and to have objects (knick-knacks) where you can see them every day that represent your power animal. This all shows that you care and can only deepen the bond. As in shamanic practice we need to get into the habit of honouring and valuing all things in our life – they all have something to teach us and power animals, especially, have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart to us.

How Do I Discover My Power Animal(s)

The most important thing to bear in mind in the process is: You don’t choose your power animal – it chooses you!

  • One way to do this is to consult a Shaman, but for the vast majority of us that would be difficult, time-consuming and possibly expensive (if you had to travel).
  • The best way to discover your power animal is to receive the information in a dream. See what happens! Go to sleep thinking about your power animals and you never know what you will dream about.
  • Woamn Meditating Outside on a Rock - Awakening Alchemy Meditate to discover what your power animal is. If you don’t practice meditation, check out my previous blog on Meditation to learn how to get started: 
  • Journey deep into the forest, the ocean, the desert, in your mind. Sit in a quiet place, breathe deeply in and out an observe the animals that come your way – one of them will almost certainly become more apparent to you than the others and will choose you.
  • Ask, out loud, for your power animal to show itself. If you suddenly begin seeing one particular animal more frequently than others that could be a sign. As an example, let’s say you are flipping through TV channels and you consistently come across documentaries on Lions; you see a sign advertising the local Lions club chapter; your friend invites you around to watch the Lion’s rugby team playing on TV. By using repetition, the power animal is drawing your attention to him/her.
  • Search the internet for surveys and quizzes that can help pinpoint your power animal. There are a host of resources available on the internet for this purpose. Just type in: “how do I discover my power animal?” and you’ll be amazed at what pops up.

 Some Common Power Animals and their Attributes:

  1. Deer: Deer are symbolic of love and harmony within oneself. They are also incredibly timid creatures and may signal the need for your protection from predators.
  2. Spider: The spider is very representative of the feminine side of us and the power of feminine energy. Their intricate webs and patience tell us how our lives are interweaved with others. Spiders are also very common power animals for creative people, as evidenced by the beauty and intricacy of their webs. They remind us that everything takes time and it is the journey that is magical, not the result.
  3. Black and White Butterfly - Awakening AlchemyButterfly: A butterfly symbolises more than any other creature the idea of profound change and transformation. As you are moving through different cycles of your life, especially “making a fresh start” the butterfly is the perfect spirit guide / power animal for you. Another intrinsic characteristic of the butterfly is its lightness and its ability to transcend the earth and the more prosaic things of life.
  4. Horse: The horse represents the driving force of life, the ability to run free, wild and untamed. In the same way, horses can be domesticated, restrained and stopped from their complete enjoyment of life – just like us.
  5. Crow: The crow is a double-edged sword, offering both positive and negative characteristics. Whilst on the one hand, it symbolizes the magic of life, intelligence and fearlessness, it can also represent a trickster, a manipulator, or those of a mischievous nature.
  6. Hawk: Hawks represent courage, truth, perspective and self-awareness. They offer the ability to see things from a higher perspective and to recognise truth. It also represents intuition and inner wisdom. Having a hawk as your power animal is an indication that it is time to re-evaluate your life, to look at the broader picture, from a higher perspective. Use the hawk’s keen vision to view your life and then its intuition and inner wisdom to guide you.
  7. Lion: The Lion is the symbol of extreme strength, self-assertiveness and power. They bring you strength, courage, authority and assertiveness, while still pointing out dangers and weak spots in your life.
  8. Closeup Photo of a Grasshopper - Awakening AlchemyGrasshopper: Grasshoppers symbolise that it is time to take a leap of faith. They are innovative and never miss an opportunity to move forward in life. They’re also considered to be good luck and a good omen. If you’re struggling with a decision that needs to be made, the grasshopper is a good animal to have by your side.  

Well, there are just a few of the possible power animals you could have in your life. Remember a couple of points. Firstly, you can have as many power animals in your life as you need, at any particular time, and secondly your power animal can change over time, as your circumstances and needs also change.

Coyote in the Snow - Awakening Alchemy I hope I’ve piqued your interest in this topic. If you have any questions at all, or you’d like recommendations on where to research further, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment here on the blog or contact me via the website. I’d love to hear from you.

We will be continuing this particular theme for the month of August, so do keep reading. If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues, plus lots more besides, please share it with your friends and family, or do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Cover For Prosperity Report: Chinese Lanterns - Awakening Alchemy You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

 

 

Spirit of Prophecy Cover: Silver Death Mask - Awakening Alchemy Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website which highlight my No1 Best-selling Visionary Fiction “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.

 

 

 

 

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP  where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy.

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under current: prepare to be swept away.

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Fire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Goddard Communicating with a Chimpanzee - Awakening Alchemy

Dr Doolittle Talking To a Horse - Awakening Alchemy “If I could talk to the animals, just imagine it,
Chatting to a chimp in chimpanzee.
Imagine talking to a tiger, chatting to a cheetah,
What a neat achievement that would be.

If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages,
Maybe take an animal degree.
I’d study elephant and eagle, buffalo and beagle,
Alligator, guinea pig, and flea.

I would converse in polar bear and python,
And I Would curse in fluent kangaroo.
If people asked me, can you speak rhinoceros,
I’d say, “Of courserous, can’t you?”

–          Lyrics from the 1967 movie – Dr Dolittle.

Talking to animals? Just a bit of fun, a pipe-dream you say? Well, for millions of people that is certainly not true. Talking to animals, especially beloved pets is a firm belief held by many people. We’ve all heard of the concept of the “horse whisperer” as shown in the 1997 movie of the same name, or perhaps, the “dog whisperer”, Cesar Millan and his incredibly popular television series. These people seem to have a natural affinity to the animals they interact with but could there actually be more than just this natural affinity – could they actually be communicating with the animals and receiving communication back, in return? That’s what we want to examine in more detail today.

“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”

–          A.A. Milne 

What is Animal Communication?

Simply put, animal communication is the use of the mind, through telepathy, to communicate our thoughts to animals and to receive theirs. It’s not as “out there” as you might think and if you sit down and contemplate on how you’re already interacting with your pets, you may well realise that you’ve unconsciously been doing this for years, anyway.

A Lady Communication with her Horse - Awakening Alchemy Telepathy is perhaps best thought of as “the universal language of the soul” – the language that is used by all species and between all species. Once we can accept that, it is easy to see how we can communicate with each other telepathically and indeed with other animals. Perhaps it may be easier to think of it as an extension of your natural intuition. Intuition is inherent in every human, but it is also a skill that can be learned, trained and refined to a higher level. For some top high vibe tips please check out the Inner Voice page on my website.

Intuition is that “gut feeling” you get when you receive images, words, feelings, or energy from the Universe that transcend time and space. How often have you said to someone who calls you – “Oh, I was just thinking about you!” That is intuition and it is not much of a stretch to understand that if you can receive these messages, these intuitive thoughts, feelings, and energy – then you can surely send them also. Bringing this back to our animal friends, how often have you intuitively known that something was wrong with your pet? He or she seems fine but deep in your gut you know there is something inherently wrong. When you take your pet to the vet, yes, you were right – there was something amiss with your pet that required the vet’s intervention. This is the animal communicating its distress to you in the most fundamental of forms – telepathic communication.

What this communication allows us to do is to enter into a much deeper, and more meaningful relationship with our pets and, in fact, with all animals in general. The real benefits of this to your relationship with your pet is that you can share so much more with him/her; your love, obviously, but also your innermost feelings, your worries, your difficulties and even, your hopes and dreams. In many ways it’s like having a counsellor, or a close friend that you can bounce ideas off and share things with that you might hesitate to share with any other human being.

For most people, their pets have been an integral part of their life, they have shared their highs and their lows. Being able to effectively communicate with them brings you closer, into a deeper relationship and can bring you peace of mind and a deeper bond of love with the animal.

“Some people don’t understand why I talk to animals. That’s okay, the animals understand.”

–          Anthony Douglas Williams

The First Animal Whisperer?    

Some people might argue that Noah was the first recorded animal whisperer – after all, he had to get all those animals into the Ark, somehow, didn’t he? For me, though, I’ll go with St. Francis of Assisi as being the first recorded case of humans communicating intimately with animals.

St Francis of Assisi Plays with the Wolf - Awakening Alchemy St. Francis was not only capable of communicating with animals he was also one of their first and strongest advocates. He valued animals and their lives to the extent that he genuinely considered their value to be that of equivalent to humans – treating them, in all things, as equals. And of course, he was absolutely right. His legacy of love, concern, poetry, and appreciation of animals lives on today and still inspires countless millions of us to seek better treatment of our animal friends. Let us send the collective intention out to the Universe and ask; “please enable many more of us to wake up, and realise that all sentient beings feel pain and desire love.” Accordingly let us follow St Francis’ exemplary example and always treat sentient beings with kindness, love, compassion and respect. And so, it is.

There is one specific story that highlights St. Francis’ legendary care and love for animals. In the story of the wolf of Gubbio, St. Francis entered the woods to talk to a wolf who had been causing havoc in the town by killing their livestock. He told the wolf that the villagers would look after him for the rest of his life if he would agree not to kill their livestock. Agreeing to the Priest’s entreaty, the wolf embraced St. Francis and lived peacefully among the people of Gubbio for another two years until his death. You can view the remains of the wolf, even today, held in a casket in the Church of San Francesco della Pace in Gubbio, Italy.

Cesar Millan with a Collection of his Dog Friends - Awakening AlchemyToday, contemporary animal communicators, like Cesar Millan, still help to resolve problems that arise between animals and humans, whether it be helping animals psychologically recover from abuse, through to assisting both animals and humans to cope with the grief and despair of loss and death. I will not be covering this issue in this blog – however, I will in a future one, but there is a whole extra dimension to communicating with animals; that of communicating with our deceased and/or reincarnated pets. Keep reading these blogs for more on that area in the future. I’m working on a video series; ‘’The pony escaping the story,” which be available soon on my YouTube channel.  Meanwhile, if you’d like the details of the amazing animal communicator who came out to talk to Jester, my daughter’s first pony, then please get in touch.

We can learn so much from animals about how to live in harmony and balance on the Earth, which is more important than ever in these times of ecological emergency. Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind when thinking about animal communication is this; communication between humans and animals is really no different from communication between humans, except one is done vocally and the other telepathically. We can talk to our animal friends about anything, from the serious, to the mundane – from the humorous to the devastatingly sad. Just remember to always check-in and ask permission: aka ‘’ Hi, I’d like to talk to you, is that OK?” Listen for the answer. Keep an open mind and an open heart and you’ll be surprised what your beloved best friend or even a beautiful butterfly you encounter, has to say.

“Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth”.

–          St Francis of Assisi   

Still not convinced…? Check out the incredible story of how leopard Diablo became Spirit – Anna Breytenbach, “Animal Communicator”.

A Few Simple Tips:

Before I go today, I’d like to offer you a few simple tips that will not only enhance your relationship with your beloved animal friend but will also open up the paths for communication between you.

  • Discard any condescending ideas that the animal is lower, less evolved, or less intelligent than you.
  • Always treat the animal with openness, respect and view him or her as a teacher and equal.
  • Be open to communication – you already receive messages from animals but you often disregard them as being just “your own thoughts”.
  • Man Lips to Lips with a Full-Grown Lion - Awakening Alchemy When you get an image, a feeling, an emotion or an impression in your mind or your gut, understand it is coming from the animal and most importantly of all, don’t disregard it – act on it. When animals feel you are not understanding them, that’s when they act out; peeing on the carpet, eating your slippers, or ripping something to shreds.
  • To open up the telepathic channels to your animal you need to be clear, focused, relaxed and receptive to the energy and information from your pet. Get into the habit of spending some quiet, alone time with the animal – you’ll be surprised what can evolve from this.
  • Use meditation to achieve a calm, quiet, state that the animal will respond to. You can check out my article on meditation and how to get into it, here:
  • Always put out positive energy and thoughts to the animal. Animals are acutely sensitive to energy and can respond “out of character” to negative energy from their human friend. Animals are naturally drawn to an attentive, quiet presence.
  • Ensure you have a solid grounding and connection to Mother Earth. This is how animals and humans can transmit their feeling and thoughts to each other, through the energy they pass through the earth. Let your energy draw lower in your body away from the mental interference of your mind. Feel the connection to the animal through your feet and the earth.
  • Observe the animal closely. Note especially the animal’s eyes, ears and tails. Animals use body language to communicate their needs and wants to humans.
  • Listen, pay attention, tune-in and be perceptive.

Two Irish Traveller's Caravans - Awakening Alchemy Well, I certainly hope I’ve made you think and raised some questions or ideas in your mind about communicating with animals. I have trained a little in this area myself and one of the characters in my novel – Pa Riley, the head of an Irish Traveler group based in Yorrex, UK, is also well versed in the old art of Animal Communication. If you have any questions at all, or you’d like a recommendation for a top-notch trainer to become an Animal Communicator yourself, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment here on the blog or contact me via the website. I’d love to hear from you.

We will be continuing this particular theme for the month of August, so do keep reading, and we’ll let you know when the You-Tube series is posted so you can tune in too. If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP or Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website which highlight my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy. This incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. Check out Pa Riley and see what he gets up to, I know you’ll enjoy it.

Sprit of Prophect Mystical Banner - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Fire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

 

 

 

Yoga Has to Be Good For You - Awakening Alchemy

If you’ve previously read any of my articles, you’ll be well aware I am a firm believer in the “holistic” approach to health and wellbeing. There are so many ways to achieve peace and enlightenment and what I like to do is expose my readers to some of the options out there that they may not have considered previously. Yoga is something that for many seems too hard, too physical, and perhaps too time-consuming for them but, in reality, you only need do as much as you feel comfortable with.

Where Did Yoga Come From?

As with so many of the practices we have adopted in the West, yoga came out of the practices of the peoples of ancient India. There is much debate, in the academic world, about the actual origins of the practice but there is consensus that it originated in India probably around 3000BCE. Carved figures, picturing practitioners in various poses have been dated to this period. It was developed as part of the overall purpose of life – achieving enlightenment.

Yoga From History - Awakening Alchemy

The Pushupati Seal

Although most scholars are agreed that the principles of Yoga probably developed during the Vedic period of Indian history, there is some evidence that it may even be earlier. The Pashupati Seal discovered in an earlier Indus Valley civilization, excavation site, depicts a figure in a position that resembles an asana (a Hatha Yoga body posture) used in meditation. Yoga aimed to achieve harmony between the heart and the soul. Incidental to the practice of yoga came the realization that is was especially useful in controlling certain illnesses and diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic pain.

Backward Stretch Yoga Pose - Awakening Alchemy It is precisely these benefits, perhaps, rather than the search for enlightenment that saw yoga begin to take off in Western civilization toward the middle of the nineteenth century. One of the results of this rise in popularity of yoga in the western world has been the many differing offshoots and schools of practice that have developed. It is important to understand there is no right or wrong way to practice yoga, just different methods and sometimes different sought outcomes from the practice.      

Why is Yoga Useful to Us? 

Yoga can be beautifully dovetailed into a regime of meditation which I believe is an essential part of wellbeing and centering ourselves. I’ve recently had an article on meditation published in the exceptionally fine, FREE Emagazine, called Mom’s Favorite Reads. You can access the magazine and my article on meditation here from SmashWords. Yoga and meditation are intrinsically linked – one complements the other perfectly. But why do yoga at all?

For most people the idea they would have of yoga is that it is (a) physical and therefore helps with your general level of fitness and (b) mental, in that it helps you relax and gain peace of mind as well as allowing you to zone out from the worries of life, at least for a short period.

Group Yoga Benefits - Awakening Alchemy The experts, however, paint a different picture of the benefits of yoga. They would argue that the aim of yoga is to actually transcend those things of the world, meaning to move your consciousness away from the day to day hassles of life and actually discover a higher, more spiritual plane of thinking. They would suggest that other forms of exercise can achieve fitness and mental wellbeing, like running, the spin-bike or lifting weights, whereas yoga is seen as food and exercise for the soul. Whatever the reason for doing Yoga there are definitely some real benefits to be had from it:

  • Increased flexibility
  • Stress relief
  • Circulation improvement
  • A general feeling of wellbeing
  • Physical fitness

Yoga is Great During Pregnancy - Awakening Alchemy Medical reviews, such as one published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology have shown that practicing yoga will reduce the risk of heart disease as much as any of the conventional forms of exercise. On average, people taking part in yoga regularly (weekly) lost five pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their LDL (Low-density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol – also known as “bad cholesterol” by 12 points. Research is now starting to show many more health benefits of practicing this ancient art, including: controlling obesity, reducing chronic pain, asthma relief, minimizing fatigue and aiding irritable bowel syndrome.

In addition to these findings, neuroscience, using MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain have shown yoga reduces the decline in gray matter brain volume, especially apparent in older people. Interestingly enough, most of this brain protection appears to occur in the left hemisphere, which is the side of the brain most associated with positive emotions and the rest and relaxation response. Perhaps we have finally found the true cause of “grumpy old man and grumpy old woman syndrome”?

It certainly appears there is little to no downside to practicing yoga.         

Yoga's Spiritual Experience - Awakening Alchemy One of the interesting things that Yoga instructors and most students who progress further in the practice have noticed is that their reasons for doing yoga, change over time. What started out initially as a physical activity slowly morphs into a more spiritual and mental activity – a journey of self-discovery, self-actualisation, self-fulfillment, and reflection along with a greater capacity to care for themselves and practice self-love. By reaching back to the very spiritual roots of yoga, people, it seems, actually begin to discover the true purpose for which the practice was developed.

How Do I Get Started on Yoga?

The first thing to remember is it DOES NOT MATTER what age you are or what fitness level you currently have. Clearly, if you are in a major city or town, there may well be a yoga studio available for you to consult and join. If this is not an option, or you feel uncomfortable or shy, training initially with others, you can totally start to learn on your own.

  • Wear comfortable and lose clothing (yoga pants are absolutely not a requirement)
  • Get yourself a non-slip yoga mat
  • Enter the process with an open mind and be prepared to be patient – it takes a little determination but you can do it.
  • Get yourself a quality “beginners” DVD or view a “beginner’s class” on the internet. (YouTube is great for this).  

Some Beginner’s Poses You Can Try: 

  • Yoga Stretching Down - Awakening Alchemy Initially, the key to success is breathing and determination. Don’t give up just because you can’t make the pose shown on your video instruction. Do as much of the pose as your body feels capable of and breathe, always breathe, through the nose, filling your belly and keeping your body relaxed and controlled. 
  • Sit on the floor in a relaxed, easy position with your legs crossed and your back and neck straight.
  • Concentrate on your breathing – regular, slow, peaceful breaths. 
  • Once you are relaxed, stand up straight and stretch your arms as high above your head as you feel able to comfortably – breathing evenly all the time.
  • Exhale as you reach down to the ground. (Don’t get discouraged if you can’t touch the ground initially – just go as far as you feel comfortable without straining yourself).  

Once you feel good with this, you’re ready to move onto a few beginner exercises which will be on your DVD or your YouTube Channel you are watching. 

One thing that is known to put off newcomers is when they see an expert twisted into some “pretzel-like” shape and they immediately say: “OMG! I can’t ever do anything like that – what’s the point of trying?” Like I said earlier – patience and determination and who knows what you can achieve in the future.

Finally, a couple of beginner poses for you to try that absolutely will not send you running to a chiropractor or requiring your partner to call an ambulance to take you off to the emergency room to be untangled.    

Cat-Cow:

A great pose for stretching the back and abdomen.

  • Cat-Cow On Your Knees - Awakening Alchemy Begin on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips.
  • Keep your spine flat, like a table – the neutral spine.
  • Keep your neck in line with your spine. Don’t lift it up or drop it down.
  • As you inhale, drop your belly toward the floor and look up. Curl your toes under if this helps you reach the stretch.
  • As you exhale, pull your spine toward the ceiling, rounding your back. Your head will drop down and you can focus on your navel. The tops of your feet will lay flat against the floor.
  • Repeat this action as you continue inhaling and exhaling, working on your breath.

Downward-Facing Dog:

Another really easy yoga pose, to start with.

  • Yogas's Downward Facing Dog - Awakening Alchemy Begin on your knees, as with the Cat-Cow pose, your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
  • As you breathe in, push your hips toward the ceiling, straighten your legs and place your feet flat on the ground.
  • When your legs are straight, spread out your fingers and let your head hang down between your arms. Use your quadriceps (thigh muscles) to take the pressure off your arms.
  • Once you are in position, continue working on keeping your breathing steady and rhythmical.

 

So, there we have the basics of yoga. I hope I’ve excited you enough to give it a try. Always remember two things:

  1. Nobody (and I mean nobody) cares what you look like at the moment. It’s none of their business, anyway and they, like you, all started somewhere. Everyone will be impressed with one thing – that you are giving it a go. So, don’t be afraid to try.
  2. Like everything worth having in life, it takes time, practice, and determination to achieve the tangible results you are looking for, so don’t be discouraged. I can promise you, though, if you try yoga and apply it diligently, you will start to see the incremental benefits very quickly.

Yoga Takes You Out Of This World - Awakening Alchemy There are a ton of resources out there to help you (thank goodness for the internet!) so don’t be afraid to look and if you join a structured yoga class – don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all ultimately seeking the same thing.

If you are interested in all things spiritual and esoteric then please do visit my website and sign up to receive my regular blogs which cover many aspects of spirituality, alternative lifestyle, other esoteric topics and fascinating insights into the world of science and the paranormal. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

Spirit of Prophecy is Magical - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light

 

 

Self-Love and New Thought = Awakening Alchemy

What is the tie-in between self-love and “new thought”?

We now know what self-love is all about, so perhaps we better define “new thought” a bit more.

Self-Talk & Creativity - Awakening Alchemy New thought was a philosophy that began in the early mid-nineteenth century that postulated the idea of “healthy mindedness” as well as a healthy body. It was a spiritual movement with its roots in metaphysical beliefs. It grew out of existing Christian beliefs, especially those of a Calvinist origin. New thought’s basic premise was; “that anything that exists in the mind and could be expressed through words had the ability to transcend the physical and be realized through individual thoughts and intuition.”

Many philosophers and thinkers of the time latched onto “new thought” as expressing their belief in the universality of humanity and whilst still accepting a higher power, they attributed that higher power to the Universe rather than some arbitrary human construct, such as God, Yaweh, Allah, or whatever it might be.

Perhaps, for most of us today, “new thought” only came to the forefront of our consciousness in 2006 with the world-wide streaming of Rhonda Byrne’s movie and later book, “The Secret”. It was at this time the idea of the Law of Attraction and New Thought actually swept across the world. Rhonda would be the first to admit that her movie was espousing nothing new, but rather sharing the “secret” that she had discovered from reading a one-hundred-year-old book by Wallace Wattles, titled, The Science of Getting Rich. So, although Rhonda’s epiphany may have seemed startling, exciting, and new to a whole new generation of adherents, the basic principles that made up the new thought philosophy had been around and discussed for many years.

Joseph Campbell:          

New Thought Author Joseph Campbell - Awakening Alchemy One adherent to the new thought philosophy was Joseph Campbell. An American author and editor who lived from 1904 to 1987, Joseph Campbell is best known for his works on comparative mythologies across the world. He examined the universal functions and impacts of myths in various cultures and mythical figures across a wide range of different literature from all over the world.

For me, however, it was his pronouncements and quotes that have the greatest effect and inspiration. We talked last week about the greatest way to love yourself is to find your true path in life – that which you were gifted; those unique and special talents that we’ve been talking about. Joseph Campbell’s simple quote, for me, sums up perfectly what we need to do, as individuals, if we are to achieve the self-realization, self-actualization and self-love that we both seek and deserve.

“Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

Joseph Campbell

Such a simple phrase – “follow your bliss” but one that is guaranteed to put you where you (a) want to be and (b) where you belong.

Follow Your Bliss:

What is bliss?

Follow Your Bliss - Awakening Alchemy Bliss is a concept that almost defies description. It is vast, boundless, immeasurable AND it is a totally different state, for every single person and that is the key. Bliss must be personally experienced to understand what it is for YOU. Bliss exists on an entirely different dimension to simple happiness – it is so much more than that. It is a state where the sense of ego slips away and a feeling of total connectedness takes over. When you are in a state of bliss there is no sense of “me”, separate from the rest of creation – there is just joy and peace.

Perhaps the best definition I’ve heard of bliss is doing something where time, the environment, and everything around you fades away into the background and only the thing you are currently focused on matters anymore. This is the way I feel when I’m writing these blogs, or my novels, so, for me, a state of bliss is attained when I am writing. For everyone it will be different and you need to focus on what gives you bliss and then find a way to relate that to today’s environment and a way to “follow your bliss” that also rewards you financially for doing so. Remember what Richard Branson said about not doing what he did for the money, but for the fun and the challenge. But that when he had fun, invariably the money followed.

If there is one guaranteed way to achieve the self-love and satisfaction that we all seek, that is it.

If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are — if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.”

Joseph Campbell

Simply put, if you do things that you are passionate about, you’ll feel more alive and doors will open for you.

New Thought and Self-Talk:

Be Kind to Yourself - Awakening Alchemy We’ve talked a lot in the last few blogs about the importance to our well-being of our own self-talk. Regardless of the reasons for us having a low opinion of ourselves, so many of us do and we are continually berating ourselves for not measuring up to either our or others opinions or expectations of us. When we denounce ourselves, we are doing serious harm to our self-esteem and self-worth.

This is particularly cogent when we look at new thought beliefs. One of the core beliefs of this new thought philosophy is expressed in the concept that; “thoughts are things”. One of the best known of the new thought authors is Napoleon Hill and perhaps his most famous quote was:

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”

You Have to Love Yourself - Awakening Alchemy I’m sure that will right now be resonating with readers of this blog. What an inspirational quote – if we act and think positively, with respect to self-love and self-talk, we can create whatever we desire and need. If thoughts are things and we can achieve whatever we conceive and believe in, if we don’t believe in ourselves, we will create exactly what we believe in and constantly tell ourselves – that we are hopeless, we are a failure, we can’t do anything right, or what’s the point in even trying if we’re just going to mess it up?

That, in a nutshell is why positive self-talk and believing in ourselves and our unique abilities is so important. If we don’t – we are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy through the Law of Attraction. Remember the mirror exercise from recent blogs. We really need to practice that – we need to be able to look in the mirror and say; “I am an awesome human being, I can achieve anything I set my mind to, I am capable, I am special, I am unique, I am… (fill in the blank).

Give Yourself Praise - Awakening Alchemy There are so many people in this world today who are quick to try to bring you down, to scoff at your achievements and to belittle you or even withhold applause or praise. Congratulations, and celebrations are so important – always look for things to appreciate in yourself and give yourself a big pat on the back and a high five whenever you make constructive progress or take positive action. Self-love is also about moving away from lower [on an energetic sphere] feelings / emotions such as shame – guilt – anger – judgement and so on, and raising your vibration, instead.

We hope you’ll review this series from time to time and deploy some of the tips on a regular basis. It is your duty to yourself to remind yourself that you are better than all of that, that you are special and unique, that you are wonderful. If you don’t believe it, how can you expect anyone else to believe it?

I hope you have realized over these last four blogs why self-love, self-care, self-awareness is so important to us, as human beings and what we can do to ensure that we do love ourselves properly and look after ourselves so that we are able to utilize those special and unique talents that make us who we are. I want to leave you today, with a special quote that neatly sums up everything we’ve been discussing over these last four weeks.

“You can’t hate yourself happy. You can’t criticize yourself thin. You can’t shame yourself worthy. Real change begins with self-love and self-care.”

– Jessica Ortner

If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted, as well as special promotions and the opportunity to win prizes. We will never spam you, though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

 

Mystery, Magic and Supernatural; Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light

 

How Can I Love Myself - Awakening Alchemy

As we’ve seen over the past two weeks, learning to love ourselves is one of the most important things we can do for our own self-confidence, self-esteem, and general wellbeing. If we are to have any chance of achieving the happiness we so richly deserve, as unique and wonderful human beings, I hope you will agree with me by now, we need first to love ourselves. We’ve seen all the impediments to achieving the self-love and self-care that are our birthright. You might actually be thinking, by this point, that the deck is very much stacked against us!

The Wind Beneath My Wings - Awakening Alchemy Well, I’m here to tell you that is absolutely untrue! We have everything we need, inside of us, to achieve the self-love and happiness that we owe ourselves. Even more importantly, I have some incredibly easy practical steps to begin our journey of wiping out the past and building a new future through the things we say, think, and believe, today.

All those years of negativity from others and even from yourself have to be wiped away and dealt with. You need to learn the secret to LOVING YOURSELF UNCONDITIONALLY! As with any improvement in our lives the first step is easy – You need to make a conscious decision to love yourself. I know this may sound self-evident but you’d be surprised at how many people try to improve their lives but forget this most basic of actions – MAKE A DECISION! By choosing to love yourself unconditionally you are triggering a couple of things.

  1. You are telling your subconscious that this is real and you are going to do this, so you begin the process of ingraining the new affirmation into your subconscious and to begin wiping away all the negative programming that has built up over the years. (Remember though, from last week – this conscious decision will kick that little maniacal ego into action, to begin working against your decision, so you will need to be aware of this and ready to counter it).
  2. You are making a commitment, to yourself, to take full and complete responsibility for the outcomes in your life – to stop blaming others, the Universe, or just life in general, for anything negative that comes into your world. You are promoting yourself to the exalted rank of CAPTAIN of your own ship, in the sea of life.

“No other love no matter how genuine it is, can fulfil one’s heart better than unconditional self-love.”

– Edmond Mbiaka

 

Long-Term Structural Steps to Achieve Self-Love:

  • Unconditional Love of Yourself - Awakening Alchemy Fall in Love with Yourself: We’ve talked about this idea of “falling in love with yourself”, in previous blogs. Stop berating yourself for things you perceive as being your faults or shortcomings. We all do this – we focus on what we don’t like about ourselves instead of all the amazing things that make us the incredible individual we truly are. Be kind, be gentle, be loving to yourself. Think about it this way – we are taught from early on to be nice to other people, to praise them and not to criticize them. Why then, should it be any less for us, the most important person in the Universe, to be kind and compassionate to ourselves? It’s insane that we consistently drag ourselves down instead of building ourselves up.
  • Be Kind to Yourself: Make it a habit to praise yourself every single day and DON’T be embarrassed by it. One of the absolute best ways to do this is using the “mirror technique”. How many of you hate looking at yourself in the mirror? I know many of you will have bashfully put your hand up to that one. You need to face yourself, daily, look into your own eyes and tell yourself a host of positive affirmations. “I am amazing. I can do anything I choose to do. I am a unique being with unique talents. I am wonderful. I am capable. I am… (fill in the blank). Make it a habit to do this regularly, multiple times a day, if you can. Two things will happen – one, you’ll shut up that crazy ego inside your head and two, your subconscious will assimilate your positive affirmations and begin to believe them and more importantly, actively support them.
  • Acknowledge Your Achievements: So often we forget to acknowledge or reward our achievements. We are the first to jump up and down and celebrate other’s achievements but we forget all about ourselves. That’s just plain wrong – we are as worthy of praise as anyone, so make sure you give yourself some. Celebrate your effort, regardless of the outcome of what you were doing. You tried!
  • Forgive Yourself: So often we carry this immense burden on our shoulders from our past actions or decisions. It’s time to let it all go – forgive yourself. What happened in the past cannot be changed, so let it go. If you need to apologize to someone, by all means, do so but then move on.

 

“Forgive yourself. The supreme act of forgiveness is when you can forgive yourself for all the wounds you’ve created in your own life. Forgiveness is an act of self-love. When you forgive yourself, self-acceptance begins and self-love grows.”

Miguel Angel Ruiz

 

  • Gratitude Makes You Beautiful - Awakening Alchemy Express and Feel Deep Gratitude: Gratitude is so important to improving our feelings about ourselves. Be grateful for who you are, for your strengths and gifts. If you feel blessed it is so much easier to look at yourself with positive eyes and positive thoughts. You are alive, you are living on a blessed planet and you are capable of making an immense difference in your life. What a lot to be grateful for!
  • Cherish Your Dreams: Dream big – aim for the stars. Why deny your dreams? So many of us bury our dreams beneath a blanket of responsibilities, lack of time, financial worries, other’s expectations, our own insecurities – but why should we? Our dreams are what keep us striving to achieve, to be happy, to lead the life we really want. If you give up on your dreams, you give up on life. It reminds me of the title of a popular comedy series in Britain a few years ago. If you give up your dreams you are just; “Waiting for God”.

 

“Don’t die with the music still in you.”

Dr Wayne Dyer

 

Quick Practical Steps for Change:

  • Sleep Properly: Getting a good night’s sleep is imperative if you are going to wake up in the morning refreshed, excited, and raring to go. It’s a lot harder to love yourself, if you are tired, grumpy, restless. One really great habit to get into is to fall asleep reciting your positive affirmations from the “mirror exercise” earlier. The subconscious is at its most receptive as you drift off to sleep.
  • Healthy Eating is Critical - Awakening Alchemy Eat Properly: There’s nothing wrong with “treating” yourself, rewarding yourself for something you did or tried (in fact that is to be encouraged) but limit the treats and you’ll appreciate them more. A balanced, healthy diet, will make a balanced, healthy, you.
  • Spend “Alone Time” with yourself to think and maybe meditate: This is where you’ll really begin to discover the “real” you – the one that’s been hidden behind the giant wall of years of mental conditioning and negative self-talk. When you discover the “real” you, trust me, you will fall in love with yourself.
  • Exercise Regularly: Easy to say, hard to do. Don’t we know it? So, start easy – go for a walk in the morning and soak up the beauty that surrounds you. We all know that when we exercise we release endorphins and endorphins make us feel great about ourselves and the world around us, so gently exercising is a massive boost to our self-love.
  • Thank yourself and those around you regularly: Nobody is an island. As Sir Isaac Newton once said; “if I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” We have much to be grateful for from others but don’t forget to thank yourself, also, for being the wonderful person you are.
  • Allow Yourself Time to Play: As adults, we often forget that we still need to play, also. “All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl.” Spend some time EVERY single day doing something you absolutely love. It may be something as simple as sitting in the garden with a cup of tea, reading a good book. Whatever it is that spins your wheels – make sure you do it for yourself and your own wellbeing.
  • Stay Away from Bad Habits: The two biggest bad habits to stay away from: 1. Self-criticism and 2. Criticism of Others (Gossiping).
  • Stay Away from Toxic Influences: The most toxic influence you need to avoid is people who bring you down. I’m always amazed that so often we are drawn to people (they become our best friends) who constantly belittle us and bring us down. Why is that? If someone is constantly bringing you down, you need to jettison that person from your life, no matter how close they are. You are here to live YOUR life, for YOU, nobody else. Love yourself enough to let go of anyone who creates negativity in your life.

 

Enjoy Aloneness With Yourself - Awakening Alchemy Finally, today, I’d like to introduce you to a concept I’ll be talking about a lot in next week’s blog on Self-Love and the “New Thought” movement; the notion of “following your bliss”. This concept was first brought to our consciousness by 20th Century mythologist, writer, and philosopher, Joseph Campbell.

Following your bliss is a vital part of the journey to self-love, self-fulfilment and self-actualisation. I’ll see you then.

If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted, as well as special promotions and the opportunity to win prizes. We will never spam you, though. You can join here: 

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:  

 

Spirit of Prophecy Audio Book - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light

 

Impediments to Self-Love - Awakening Alchemy

This week I want to specifically look at some of those things that invariably get in the way of looking after ourselves and giving ourselves the love and respect we deserve as the incredible human beings we are.

The biggest impediment to self-love is YOU!

Right, that’s probably the shortest blog I’ve ever written, but seriously we really are often our own worst enemies when it comes to looking after ourselves properly. We go out of our way to sabotage ourselves and in this blog, I’ll be pointing out some of the crazy things we do and justify, to doing to ourselves, that damages our self-esteem, our confidence and our ability to be the absolute best we can be – and as I keep telling you, the absolute best you can be is incredible, breath-taking, and amazing.

Environment:

From the very first time you became aware of yourself, there has always been someone telling you what to do and how to do it – how to fit in and become a productive member of society. These instructions start with your parents, then move onto your teachers, your peers, your mentors, your colleagues, your friends, and ultimately society, in general, though the laws, rules and regulations.

What lessons do your parents drill into you from the very beginning:

  • Don’t hit
  • Learn to share
  • Give your brother/sister a hug
  • Say please and thank you
  • Respect and follow your elders etc. etc.

Time Out in the Corner Sucks - Awaiting Alchemy Now, these are all great lessons to learn but, what do they teach you about loving yourself and caring for yourself. Do they tell you to hug yourself? Do they tell you to be kind to yourself? Let’s be honest, the only time our parents allowed us to interact with ourselves was when they placed us in “time out” for being naughty and then self-love was far from our minds. Invariably we were fuming about losing, our play time and our toys, for a while which seemed like an age.

Our Head:   

Our inner voice is critical in denying us the love and respect we should be giving ourselves. Some people call it an inner voice, but I prefer the term, “ego”. [I have a section on the website, called “Inner Voice”check it out, here: – it’s full of tips on how to develop your Intuition.] The way I see the ego is this maniacal, little critter who lives inside our head. Its sole purpose in being, is to prevent us from being hurt. The easiest way to ensure that we never get hurt is to never allow us to do anything different – to never change. The Ego hates change – change is scary, dangerous and requires risk, everything the ego dislikes.

The Maniacal Creatue in our Head - Awakening Alchemy This is why, let’s say you see some new activity, sport, idea that you think would be brilliant, your ego immediately kicks into gear and reminds you just how “ordinary” you really are. The ego says things like: “sure, that looks like fun but remember the last time you tried something new… well, that was an abject failure wasn’t it?” It constantly seeks to remind us that we aren’t good enough and we genuinely think it is us that is saying it – it’s not.

 

“The ego, however, is not who you really are. The ego is your self-image, it is your social mask, it is the role you are playing. Your social mask thrives on approval. It wants control, and it is sustained by power because it lives in fear.”

Ram Dass

As if the rampant ego was not enough to cope with, we also have this lifetime (however old you might be at the time) of other people’s hurtful comments, opinions and suggestions about us that are slopping around in our gray matter reminding us that we are nothing special at all. Many of these opinions come from people we trust, people we believe in and they can easily be adopted as our own beliefs. Once they do become our own beliefs, and usually they are ones to your own detriment and unhappiness, it is incredibly easy to let them rule your decision making and never do things that are positive for your own physical and mental wellbeing.

How often have comments from others held us back from achieving the things we want to achieve? For example, when you make a decision to improve your physical health, get fitter, or diet – how often do those hurtful comments come back to haunt you? “Oh, you never manage to stick to those diets”; “The last time you bought a gym membership, how many times did you go? Twice was it?”; or the absolute classic – “Darling, I love you just the way you are, there’s no need to change for me.”

The point being, of course, that you aren’t changing anything for anyone else – you’re doing this for YOU but somehow, between your ego’s constant barrage of negative talk and everyone else’s well-meaning comments it’s very easy to accept the idea that there simply is no point in trying.

Our Motivations and Expectations:

Your Approval's Not Required - Awakening Alchemy Why is it that we are invariably our own harshest critics? We have this tendency to do things or take particular directions for all the wrong reasons; either we’re striving for something we’re not quite ready to achieve yet, or we’re seeking the approval of others. Often when we make a decision to improve our lives (self-love), we’re not motivated by what we want but rather by impressing others or from a sense of guilt (in the example of being overweight for instance). When our motivation is not driven by what we want, it is a lot easier to give up and add that to the impressive list of failures the ego will bring out to bombard you with next time you make a positive decision about yourself.

Instead of looking at guilt or others for your motivation look inward and ask yourself – “what do I really want?” Have a conversation with your “future self”. Ask him or her what it is they want and where they want to be, in one, five, ten-year’s-time. Your future self wants the best for you, and you want the best for your future self, so work it out between you. If you are striving to achieve something that YOU want, your chances of success are so much greater. Use your future self to make decisions based on love and care for you, instead of acting out of fear and guilt.

Six Simple Impediments to Self-Love:

  1. Putting other’s needs ahead of yours: Be it your boss, your partner, your children, your social network, everyone wants your time, your commitment and your emotional involvement.
  2. Letting the Negative Rule: You need to be thinking positively way more often. As soon as we allow negativity into our heads, the ego jumps with glee because it’s something he can use to sabotage your best intentions. Being grateful, as much as possible, is the best way to keep negativity at bay.
  3. Allowing fear to control you: Fear is useful, it keeps us alert and on edge, ready for anything but it is so easy to let the fear take over and destroy your hopes, dreams and desires, consigning you to the couch and to your regrets.
  4. It's A Spiritual Thing - Awakening Alchemy Not eating properly: Comfort foods are a temporary fix at best. Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet keeps you good not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
  5. Not making time for yourself: You have to give yourself time to relax, to heal, to simply chill out. That’s why meditation is such a cool way to go – it does that perfectly. Read my blog on meditation which was recently featured in the incredibly popular magazine, “Mom’s Favorite Reads”, here:
  6. Forgetting that “today” is not all there is: It’s really easy to get stuck in the miasma of day-to-day life and forget that tomorrow is coming – a new day full of, as yet, unrealized possibilities. One of my favorite sayings when I feel stuck, overwhelmed and unable to think beyond the current problem, is; “this too shall pass”. Trust me, it will.

Next week, I’ll go into more depth, with some practical steps on how to achieve self-love, but I hope today I’ve given you some idea of the sort of things you need to be watching out for as you continue this journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-love.

I’ll finish today with a quote from one of the people whose pronouncements have always been a great motivator for me; the late, lamented, Maya Angelou:

“We have to confront ourselves.  Do we like what we see in the mirror?  And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay – and rise!”

 Dr. Maya Angelou

Look at Yourself and Love Yourself - Awakening Alchemy  Next week, I’ll be looking at some practical ways to break down these barriers that keep you from self-love and as always, I’ll be reminding you to LOVE YOURSELF because you absolutely deserve it – you are a unique and beautiful human being.

If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted, as well as special promotions and the opportunity to win prizes. We will never spam you, though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

Mix All the Ingredients Well - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light