We create our own hell on earth the Devil is not an outside entity but a inside one called ego mind. I can create mayhem, chaos, anger, frustration and even bitterness and regret with a single thought which becomes a single sentence and then turns into a major event. My partner can do something totally trivial and I can chose to hold onto it then hand over to an ego mind that turns it into something it was not in the beginning and before I know it I am heading for the divorce courts.
And surprise surprise the Devil was no where to be seen. I can do a better job than any Devil can I can turn innocent statements into full blown wars, I can make assumptions form expectations and turn on anyone who dares to not know without being told what I want. I can make up excuses, walk around with a pocketful of cop outs and blame anyone but myself for the way my life has turned out. Not only this I can bring into my life mirror images of my misery people who walk under the same dark cloud I do and I will keep them in my life not because I particularly like them but because they affirm my own belief system the world is out to get me and it is all God’s fault.
Thoughts come and don’t go they stay set up camp and keep a look out for anything which could prove their existance or validate their truth. I can spend countless hours after an angry encounter creating a hell on earth from a single thought. For example a meeting might not go well a particular person may have been a bit of a bully a tad aggressive and I will walk out of that meeting with my head full of rotating thoughts. Oh she is such a…, I cannot work with her again, the next meeting is going to be horrible or I bet when she stayed bacj she was telling everyone how horrible I was. Chances are this woman walked out of this meeting back into her life and did not give me a second thought but for some reason even though I have no concrete facts to base my assumptions on I am off and running. Did this woman make my life miserable? No I created my own hell on earth and the devil didn’t make me do it my ego mind did.
Free will we all have it but we tend not to use it wisely. Making a different choice is not hard letting go is not hard life in fact is very simple it is us humans who complicate everything. We can chose at any time to do things differently but we don’t sometimes because of fear of change, sometimes because we want the attention moaning about our lives brings or sometimes because we don’t know or believe we have choices.
Heaven of earth is not an outside condition either it is within it is something we create in our lives by our thought processes and actions. You can have nothing and be perfectly at peace and you can have everything and be a tormented soul. Which is why we bring the three G’s into our lives:
1.Grace
2.Gratitude
3.Goodwill towards all
Grace in aceptance of who we are where we are and letting go. Gratitude is appreciating who we are and where we are and letting go.
Goodwill walking with grace and expressing the gratitude for the blessing life is by extending loving kindness towards all. So which do you think you create with your thoughts and actions hell on earth or heaven on earth? Me I am a work in progress each day stepping into the responsibility for this life I wish to create each moment walking towards acceptance and letting go and each inhale counting the blessing which comes with each breath.
What pushes people to take the first step out of the comfort zone and into accomplishing great things in this world? People often have the thought ‘what can I do’ then after a moments contemplation decide it is too big of a project and prompting do nothing at all. Yet on any given day there are ordinary people with no special skills no great talents and not a whole lot of money and yet they are changing lives in ways we can only dream of.
They are the ones who step not knowing where they will land but trusting the purpose they hold in their hearts. They are the ones whose hearts overflow with compassion and empathy for their fellow humans who need someone to care. Interestingly enough I encountered a cyber conversation which basically said this crisis the world faces was God’s way of punishing us for not doing the ‘right’ thing the usual sin and brimstone we will all go to hell stuff. But maybe God gave us free will and we didn’t know back then what the important ’stuff’ was maybe we are a lesson in progress a human race just beginning to understand worth as a soul connection not a wallet one. I am not sure people in the soup kitchens are there because it is the ‘right’ thing to do I am pretty sure (although I could be wrong) that it is compassion not obligation that motivates them.
We all sit back and go what can I do and some of us throw the token penny to the homeless and that’s okay because it counts too. But what if we could take the ’step’ you know the one I mean the step after the thought the step into action into doing. I have so much admiration for people who take this step it is not easy to believe an ordinary person with an ordinary life like me can make a difference. Mother Teresa is now a saint but she was in real life an ordinary woman doing simple things with great compassion. The people touching lives changing lives creating a ripple of human kindness they are the unseen ones who do not need to walk within the light of the camera but within the light of divine grace and love.
The thing which prevents us from doing is the assumption we need to be special to accomplish great deeds or they need to be of the part the sea variety. Not true every action creates a reaction a ripple effect the one person who you touched today may be the person who cures aids tomorrow. We can usually come up with a thousand cop outs as to why we can’t we never seem to be able to generate as many reasons why we can.
Did you know if you included a toothbrush a comb and a bar of soap every time you shopped for groceries by the end of the year you could give fifty homeless men a little dignity back? Did you know if you threw two dollars in a jar every week you could buy a whole heap of teddy bears for children in women’s shelters? You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to spreading human kindness around go on give it a go I dare you!
Tags: compassion, donate, giving, kindness, love
I often hear spiritual people say “there will come a time when us ‘special’ people the light workers of the world will be called on to show others the way.” I sit and stare completely caught off guard as far as I can tell I don’t possess any magical powers the rest of the human race had missed out on. Okay so I am a Psychic but this gift is no different than the gift to create a painter has, no different to the gift of healing a Doctor has, no different to the gift of love a Mother has for her child or the gift of reaching a young person a teacher has. No I am pretty sure I am not special different maybe but in no way more unique than the next person walking down the street.
The first time someone said this to me it was such a profound moment and I decided it was time to step off my new age pedestal and back into my humility and humanity. All these light workers waiting for their moment to shine and what they cannot see is the little acts of random kindness building one on top of the other the man who gets up to give his seat to the old lady, the teenager who throws the homeless man a dime, the school children recycling, the people serving food at the shelters the list goes on.
Us light workers as we are labeled are not here to shine the light or lead the way for those unenlightened ones quite the opposite. We are here support encourage and fuel the passion of those around us. We are not the ones who will lead the way we are the ones who will give our strength our tools our unconditional love to those who will bring the vision of a new world to life.
I have never been more convinced that our job (not as light workers but as human beings having a very human experience) is to keep the fire burning in the hearts of those whose passion for the world ignites nations and mobilizes communities to action. I am not going to sit on top of my new age pedestal waiting for the light to shine on me I am going to give all I can of myself to ensure everyone has a chance to shine and show the world the divine light of creation that resides not in one but in all.
The ripple of human kindness is a never ending wave of intent which starts from a single unconditional act whether it be deciding to recycle or shoveling the snow off the footpath for the old lady next door. Do not live under the mistaken belief you cannot make a difference in a big way by a small act of kindness or by making a different choice than the one you made yesterday.
Look back in history and you will see the great spiritual leaders were not those who said I will lead you into the next world but those who said to the people ‘you have the power to create the world you want.’ Gandhi did not say I will be the change he said you be the change you want to see, Nelson Mandela in a very famous speech said the reason you let your light shine is because when you do you give others permission to let their light shine. I do not recall the Dali Lama ever saying he was ’special’ or Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King.
If you must place a light worker label on yourself do so with the intent not of waiting for the world to recognize how special you are but with the desire to show others how special they are. Get off your new age pedestal step into the real world and join hands and hearts with the person next to you together and only together can we walk towards a brighter future.
Tags: humility, Spirituality
‘He is blood you don’t turn your back on family.’ Well that is all good and well if your family is the mafia which by the way comes pretty close in my case but the old blood is thicker than water doesn’t wash anymore. It use to be the family secrets were hidden behind closed doors and sealed lips. Life went on no one stepped beyond the illusion and everything stayed as it should be. There was an unwritten law don’t make waves or you will find yourself cast adrift without a life raft. Yet some of us dared to question dared to stand in our truth dared to want more. Why because something deep inside told us there was more. more to life more to loving more to giving more to being a family unit.
The old keeping up appearances for the neighbors seemed less important than stopping the rot before it spread any further down the family tree. And this is the thing to remember it isn’t only about us it is about the next generation and the next generation. If you think the family rules don’t get passed down think again. You can look back and see the patterns the wrapping may change but the messages never do.
So here is the dilemma do you rock the boat and risk getting tossed overboard? Do you stay in your designated role to keep the peace? And why do we give families so much power over our own happiness?
I love my family but I don’t have to like them don’t have to accept inappropriate behavior don’t have to give up my values to accommodate theirs. Being family doesn’t excuse you from being a compassionate human being doesn’t make you right doesn’t give you a lifetime pass to treat people disrespectfully.
Take the family part out of it and ask yourself “Would I accept this behavior from a stranger?” Probably not but then you do not risk losing someone’s love when it is a stranger you are confronting. The thing you find with dysfunctional family units is the don’t speak don’t feel don’t listen rule. Bit like those three monkeys speak no evil hear no evil see not evil. We don’t talk about things because if we do I might have to look at myself and it is easier for me to believe it’s all about you. We don’t deal with our emotions because we don’t want the outside world to see inside us. We don’t acknowledge realities because then we would have to shatter illusions and lose the imaginary self we have created over the years.
People will pull out the forgiveness card the let sleeping dogs lie card the family is all you have card the blood is thicker than water card. Well here are some things you may want to consider:
1. Sometimes family comes in the form of an outstretched hand and a welcoming smile from a friend.
2. The baggage you do not unpack from your family of origin is the same baggage your children will carry around with them for the rest of their lives.
3. You only get one shot at this. God doesn’t give a next breathe guarantee think carefully about what you want to fill this moment with.
4. You can love your family but ultimately the greatest love has to be of self. If you love yourself you will ask to be treated with respect and dignity.
I don’t have the answers wish I did it would make my life easier. At least now I am not afraid to ask for more not afraid to expect more or to believe I deserve more. I know what losing the love of people close to you feels like it hurts but I also know it hurts less than living a lie.
Words are so powerful yet when you
can not find them they leave you powerless.
Words so descriptive
yet when you can not find them they
leave nothing but assumptions.
Words the cornerstone of communication,
the foundation of interaction,
the building blocks of relationships,
and the cement that holds everything together.
No wonder my house has come falling down.
Tags: Families
I could stand on my pedestal and state I never have thoughts of envy, greed or jealousy but I would be lying. So sue me if my humanity is showing! I am comfortable with who I am my words and actions align with my intent of compassion and loving kindness most of the time occasionally my inner child jumps up to be noticed but to the most part I do okay. I do not find it necessary to beat myself up when I get the odd twinge of envy or jealousy do not think I am any less of a spiritual person.
And this is where I think I part company with a lot of New Age thought. I believe to be an authentic person you have to acknowledge and accept when your humanity is showing. Do I get envious on the odd occasion but the difference is I acknowledge the thought bring in back into alignment with who I am and let it go. I don’t stand in the light of self deception just to prove I am more ‘enlightened’ than most. In fact I would dare to add those who step away from what makes them human are more in the dark than the light.
Religious doctrine is littered with thou shalt feel guilty for being anything less than perfect. Don’t have a thought outside of what is considered pure and if you do don’t share it outside of the confession box. The spiritual movement has its own version except it goes along the lines of only those above their humanity will rise to the higher dimensions of enlightenment.
We burp we fart we blurt out things we wish we could take back we walk through life with our humanity showing in ignorant bliss and that’s okay truly it is. Perfection is highly over rated. You can not live a life where every step is calculated before it is made it simply is not possible. You can not stop being human Mother Teresa is a perfect example of someone caught in the trap of not being able to reveal their humanity. No one knew of her internal struggles until after her death. God forbid she should turn out to be a mere mortal like the rest of us. In fact finding this out about her only makes me love and respect her more.
Strangely enough I bet if you let your humanity slip show a little the people around you will exhale and thank God you are human after all. So just remember everyone you meet is a reflection of some part of you. If you are a little bit jealous or envious chances are you want to have the courage or strength or skills to do what that person has done. When you can acknowledge this you will have valuable insight to help you grow and build your own dreams. Thank those people who bring out your humanity they are the greatest teachers you will ever have.
Tags: humility, Spirituality
If you think spirituality cannot become an addiction think again. In this age of uncertainty where there are more questions than answers people are looking for a way out of their reality and what better place to hide than in another dimension. As a Psychic/Medium I know how easy it is to drift away from this world but I also know when I come back the ‘real’ world will be waiting for me. I have always held these words close to me ‘To touch the stars you must feel the earth beneath your feet.’ You have to stay grounded and deal with your ‘realities’.
As much as I believe in Angels I know they are not there to do my work for me but to show me the work that needs to be done. There is a great misconception out there that all these books, gurus, workshops and new products are going to be your salvation. You are being told they hold the secret or are the way or can provide you with the keys. What they are not is a miracle cure for reality. They are ‘tools’ let me repeat that ‘tools’.
And just like the new beaut drill you rushed out to buy to finally build the set of shelves in your bedroom….they will end up sitting gathering dust somewhere if you do deal with the reality that it is ‘you’ who has to do the work.
Again I do not want to rain on your parade but those bills tucked away in the drawer you have been avoiding you cannot think them away. And rest assured if you start quoting the Oprah to your partner in the middle of an argument she will throw her book at you! You have to acknowledge your reality before you can change it if you do not all you will create is an illusion.
Spirituality is a beautiful moment when you are at peace with who you are where you are and what you are doing. It is the joy and laughter between friends and family. Hugs and smile, tears and happiness. It is life it is the very moment you are in the very people who surround you the very world you inhabit.
It is not a separate entity it should not take you away from your world but draw you into it. If you are stepping away from your reality then you are at risk of becoming a spiritual junkie. These words I give you have no power other than what you give them. That is because they are a tool of creation nothing more. Grow and learn step into the new and exciting things the New Spirituality offers but keep one foot firmly on the ground.
The magic is in awareness the gift is in understanding and the unwrapping enlightenment.
Tags: addcition
You have heard of politically incorrect well I am spiritually incorrect….apparently. I expect the New Age police will come knocking on my door at any minute exclaiming loudly “How dare you question our authority!”
Bottom line is I have trouble with movements which follow the release of movies such as the Secret. In the good old days before you became a Guru you had to first be an apprentice now days you can become ‘certified’ in 30 days. It is unbelievable how many so called ‘Secret’ experts popped up after it was on Oprah countless websites promised all sort of miracles. The basic premise behind the Secret I have no problem with but life isn’t an episode of Survivor and having the secret is not like having an immune necklace that will stop ’stuff’ happening.
People get sick they have heart attacks their children do reckless things and sometimes someone you have never met can do something that will change your life forever. That’s life there is no magic cure for it. The other issue I have is if you do not know yourself and accept yourself fully then the only thing you will create is an illusion. And you will notice a lot of materialism crept into this secret wish list world peace didn’t seem nearly as appealing as a new Porsche.
So yes I am spiritually incorrect I go against a lot of new age thought. For example I am a psychic who will not predict the future….go figure. I don’t blindly follow everything I hear, see or read having long ago decided the only person who knows me well enough to know what will work for me is me. People come to me for clarity not answers they know I believe in their ability to create the future from the present moment.
The world is evolving the light of awareness is being turned on however there is a blindness within the New Age spiritual movement as it separates itself from the mere mortals of this earth. I have seen loyal friends tossed aside not ‘enlightened’ enough for those they stood beside over the years. You complain about the power companies but the there are people charging outrageous amounts to shine the light upon us.
Here is how it goes to be an expert and charge lots of money you have to complicate something so much no one can understand it but you. Way back in the good old days if you counted your blessings and were kind to your fellow man you were considered spiritual. It is my pet peeve this over intellectualization of faith and spirit. Most people just need a simple answer to a simple question.
Anyway I can hear the New Age police knocking on my door so I had better take my spiritually incorrect opinions elsewhere. Until next time travel gently laugh loudly and do it your way!
Tags: Spirituality
I use to think I was aging gracefully letting go of the things of youth a new age saint that was until I crossed the border from 45 to 46. Some how this seemed like one small step for people in denial and one giant leap for a menopausal graying sagging in all the wrong places woman.
I have a lovely young friend who is 26 and blessed with a beautiful two year old daughter who I am blessed to babysit every now and then. This is how our last conversation went:
Friend “I thought you were about the same age as my parents (late 50’s) wow you could have been my mother” and as if that wasn’t enough “You can be Jane’s adoptive grandmother.”
Now I had been thinking along the lines of Aunty Robin Grandma Robin was a bit much I think I am still suffering post traumatic stress. I did not want to be reminded the things of youth were slipping away did not wanted to be confronted with a life maybe not as I had planned.
Isn’t strange how we are conditioned to believe we should be put out to pasture after a certain age. We give up on dreams let go of ambitions take less risks cling to the familiar rather than step into the unknown.
But the Universe always has a way of dropping me little messages to shake me awake. Last night I sat with millions of others in front of the television and watched the happy birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela. Half way through the commentator spoke of how Mandela was 71 when he was released from jail. Wow at 71 he stepped into his greatness led a nation inspired the world created hope in hearts where before there was none and here I am 46 and moaning that my life was over.
I realize now the only thing limiting me is me not age because while age may slow the body it does not take away the possibilities the pathways to greatness that are available to everyone no matter how old they are.
And how blessed am I to have the honor of being an adoptive grandma to a special little girl. I can make sure she grows up knowing her greatness is not one thing it is many things strung over a lifetime and the Creator will continually put in front of her opportunities to step into this greatness until the very last breathe she takes.
Grandma Robin Signing Off
Tags: aging
I never really contemplated the humble smile up until today. It has always been one of those things you take for granted, paste on your face when necessary and return when the need arises. Yet there is power in them there shining whites. Today for example I sheltered under the eaves of a bus shelter with thunder rumbling overhead my legs trembling because quite frankly I am not a brave soul and beside me was a young man also waiting for the bus to arrive. I looked in his direction he in mine and he gave me a ‘Yeah it sucks I know I feel the same way too’ smile. Nothing was said yet for some odd reason I felt comforted by his smile.
And as the day wore on there were more smiles. The ‘thank you for holding the door open for me’ smile, the ‘Oh God I feel sorry for you having to listen to that’ smile and lets not forget my favorite the smile at the meeting that says ‘Yeah that’s exactly what I was thinking’.
You would not believe how many different types there are for all sorts of situations. Interestingly enough you do not have to be a brain surgeon to work out what each smile means. It is instinctive we automatically see the smile connect with the eyes and have total understanding. I do not know about you but I find that pretty amazing. A smile telepathy thing no one ever considered before until now that is.
So brush your pearly whites because there is power in that there smile. The power to give hope, comfort, support and to show love and understanding. The power to share something special without the need for words pretty amazing your blackberries and Phones can’t do that!!!!
Smile and the whole world smiles with you…..
I believe authenticity is living the truth as it is for you the good the bad and the ugly. What is the point of walking a high moral ground when inside you are secretly venting about people and situations. Living with integrity is acknowledging all parts of who you are I am not going to be suddenly turn into a righteous Christian when some one crosses my boundaries I am going to be upset and will probably mutter some things under my breathe that are not so charitable. Would it be more spiritual to feign happy thoughts, forgiveness and oh well I will pray for you I don’t think so and I will tell you why.
Spiritualism is not the same as sainthood it is walking a path of authenticity while honoring self and others. Most people believe helping others to see the light is a spiritual thing to do if I do this or that or treat them this way they will change and it will be all because of me. This is ego talking because how do you know what is best for someone else? There is a little thing called enabling if you have been with an addict you will know all about this word. If you prop up, rescue, try to fix or at times simply give your attention you may actually be contributing to the behaviors and patterns and keeping the person from the life lesson they need.
People have questioned my ’spiritual’ credibility because I have stood up and gone “you know what you crossed my boundaries and I am really pissed off right now.” The expectation is as a spiritual person I should be able to extend compassion and happy thoughts that will go into the universe and a magic new age fairy will come and make this person whole again. Rubbish awareness is what creates understanding and growth and if you go around lying about how someone’s behavior is affecting you then you become part of the problem. The worst lie of all is the one we tell ourselves “I don’t feel angry, sad, upset, frustrated, hurt” and the irony is we are being told it is okay for someone else to dump those very same feelings on us whether we want them or not but we must be the greater soul.
I can be angry but I have a choice how I respond or act to this anger. This is where spiritualism comes in not in denying what you feel but in choosing what you do about those feelings. Sometimes you are going to feel like venting using someone as a sounding board getting all those uncharitable thoughts out into the open so you can let them go. Sometimes you are going to need speak your truth to maintain healthy boundaries and relationships. Sometimes you are going to have to address behaviors which disrespect or discount you and sometimes you are going to have to step away to avoid enabling or becoming part of the game.
We are human beings having a human experience we are not saints not Gods not perfect we are all on a learning curve of growth and understanding. Authenticity is acknowledging your humanity your imperfections as you see them your truth warts and all. It is not beating yourself up with a stick because someone pushed your buttons and you reacted. It is not pretending to be all light and goodness for the cameras and then silently seething when they are turned off. It is not ignoring bad behavior or ‘putting’ up with things just because you want to be seen as a ‘nice’ person. It is saying this is how I feel it may not be pretty but it is how I feel then making a choice that resonates with what is best for all involved. To be authentic is not to shy away from your humanity but to embrace it because we are only human after all.
Tags: authenticity
Have a voice be heard