Spiritual Endeavor

So real, it's unreal! by tracy-the-astonishing

Many of us people pleasers, or people who seek the love of others, use unconscious manipulation to try to get what we seek. This manipulation for the average person is under the radar and usually goes unnoticed. It is oh so sexy. Not!

Now I am not talking about extreme cases like that of a serial killer, as many will not be reading my blog. Would be nice but they might not like the light! Some of those types need to manipulate to get what they want or else they cause harm to others; they rarely become conscious enough to want to change.

Some people use manipulation for power. Some use manipulation in experiments with people. They justify their use by having excuses like I was testing you or I wanted to see your “false” reaction to my “false” action. That in and of itself is a power trip or insecurity about being authentic or just plain mean.

Manipulation can take hold of us personally, as if an untrained monkey has the reins of your life. Once awoken we still may be hard-pressed to see the underlying issue of why we feel the need to change ourselves or others so we can feel safe in the world. We sometimes think that getting what we want has to be at the expense of another’s personal free will.

Many of us manipulate. Another form of manipulation is guilt. Until we let go of the need for people to like us, we will probably have the instinct to change ourselves or push people to be a certain way so we feel safe or loved. We also manipulate ourselves when it comes to food, shopping, debt, and other addictions of the ego. How many times can you talk yourself into buying something you know you can’t afford, justifying it by saying that you deserve it or you’ve been good for like 40 seconds? How many times do we say we want to lose weight but talk ourselves out of getting up early?

All these experiences we have chosen for ourselves to be reflected back at us to learn about them and to change and grow or to live a life that is unsatisfactory or unhealthy. We have a choice. Thank goodness!

Spirit feels when we manipulate, it gets the needs of our ego for the approval or comfort we seek. Spirit asks us repeatedly not to see that desire as truth. The truth is you already have everything you need. Pushing yourself, your need for attention or love or trying to get someone to do something that they don’t really want to do, are forms of manipulation. Once you let go of the need for control or approval, you already have all the peace, love, truth, as well as the ability to act consciously in the situation. Ah, but letting go is the challenge we all face . . .

I send out a challenge for this week to see how ya’ll have tried to tame the beast of manipulation even in a small way. Examples: Telling people in your life you like something when it’s unpopular. By putting down the martyr cross you can let people in and know that you don’t have to be anything other than you.

Love and Hugs,

Jen

Beauty of age and wisdom by ftbester

This post is inspired by Steve and Erin Pavlina of Steve Pavlina’s Personal Development Blog. Both of these bloggers love to share their insights to help others who seek to enhance their personal and spiritual development. I would suggest browsing their pages and I am sure you will glean more than a tiny bit of insight from their prose.

This is my road map to being a woman. I know by the time I am ready to rest my body and move on to the next world, I will have become a woman fully. Can someone say Oprah! Oprah is a woman I aspire to be very much like. I know there are many women who are behind the scenes who showcase what being a woman is all about, and I hope to meet them and learn from them as well.

Being a woman is a process one undertakes unconsciously at first. Even if womanhood, in a medical sense, arrives early, it isn’t cultivated until life challenges this Pretty Young Thing beyond superficiality, where the meat of owning her own self is accomplished.

A woman is not afraid of being challenged by her friends, her mate, or even her family. Argh! God love them, some are our best teachers even when they make living a challenge.

A woman knows how to laugh at herself. She can enjoy a good joke and life is jovial. Seriousness can be put aside to enjoy a moment of pure tears-out-the-eyes laughter, about herself and her world.

A woman takes full responsibility for her choices, positive and negative. No blaming others or her childhood, no buts about it. As she becomes wiser she understands how ALL of her choices, conscious or unconscious, affect others. A woman looks at herself and her cohorts honestly. She doesn’t BS herself on how she really feels, doesn’t hide, and owns up to being hurt. A woman doesn’t try to manipulate herself or others in order to save face. She is willing to own up to her transgressions. She is willing to give praise and love in an honest way. She knows that honesty isn’t popular, especially in this day and age. Even though it may sting sometimes, I would rather be told the truth with love than fake sweetness with a hidden spoonful of hate, jealousy, or disdain.

Being a woman means keeping her word. A woman knows that when she says yes, it is a yes, not a maybe. She knows the value of not talking about her girlfriends. Gossip is a trait of young girls. Sadly many of us are still in girlhood. I have gossiped my share but a real woman told me to stop. Thanks, Syl! When we ogle at poor Britney Spears we perpetuate the sewing circle gossip that brings all the sisters down. Talking about your so-called BFFs with negativity or judgment is not what a real woman would do. Even if not done with malicious intent you are still not uplifting their or your own energy field. We have more important things to talk about, don’t we? We can talk about how our own lives and how we are contributing to the world or how we can solve problems.

A woman is someone who is powerful and strong, vulnerable and loving, honest and full of humor. If she has a problem with one of her girls, she discusses it with that girl. Not the whole neighborhood, the dog, and the mailman. She loves the people that surround her. As age and wisdom grow, her level of discernment of friends and associates becomes more refined. Like wine, good friendships and lovers will be at a taste level and maturity where she knows who is good for her and whom she loves but must send away. What is healthy for them may not be healthy for you. Real women empower other women and men to be the best they can be with love and honesty.

Being a woman is also knowing how to love herself unconditionally. Not, I love myself but my nose, my thighs, and tummy are too big. Or I don’t have a boyfriend, how can I love myself? A woman doesn’t wait for outside validation. A woman loves even her cellulite or at least is comfortable having conversations with it. She knows that the two of you (nose, thighs, etc.) will be together until the end so you might as well enjoy each other. You can change your physical, mental, and spiritual self but a woman knows that even if all is not perfect, she loves herself all the same. A woman who loves herself makes herself a priority. She helps others but realizes her tank needs to be full in order to share herself with the world. A woman breathes for herself and takes her personal time, which includes self-care without guilt or shame. She takes care of her mind, body, and spirit. She is independent but allows others to help her when she needs it. She does not need a man (or a woman for all my rainbow friends), but she may want one to add to the sparkle of her life.

Being a woman means giving birth to ideas, seeds of creativity, and spirituality. This can include giving birth to children, but that is not a requirement of being a woman. A woman can rear her concepts and ideals with love, understanding, and trust. Her abilities will showcase her spark and gifts of Spirit when bringing her ideas to the world.

Being a woman means owning her sexuality. She knows the power she holds within her bosom, really her being, and uses it with grace. Her sexuality isn’t used as a weapon of manipulation for neediness of love. She deserves to be treated well and a woman knows how to chose suitors who honor her and share her sexuality in a passionate and romantic way, not like a 7-11 that is always open. A woman knows her own body; she commands respect and shows affection to those who are worthy. A woman doesn’t mistreat her body by not protecting it from STDs and guys who just want a piece. She is like a fine sherry. Taken down less frequently by random strangers, she is well worth the wait and when she finds the right man to partake in her yumminess, all is well in the world.

Being a woman means being confident in doing things without others. She goes to the movies, vacations, and eats dinner alone if she chooses. She may enjoy the company of others but she is not shamed by going it alone and enjoys her own company nearly as much.

A woman knows when to fight for a cause and when to rest on an issue. Not everything has to be war. In addition, not everything has to be other people’s design or wishes. A woman has a voice, an opinion, and isn’t afraid to share even at risk of being burned at the stake for making a mark in the world.

A woman knows her babies (ideas, children, friends) need to fly on their own. She will always be there when they need her, especially if they break a wing. However painful it is to let go, she knows how to build up her babies so they can once again leave the nest.

This among many things makes a complete woman. There may be things that I have missed. I ask that you send them my way, so I can add them to my list so by the time I do end this life, I will have fully lived as a woman.

Love and Hugs,
Jen

Old Scars, New Wounds: by ashley.adcox

We all have raised boo-boos when it comes to forgiveness. We have felt hurt, betrayed, unloved, uncared for—blah, blah, blah. Really we all have wounds; some seem deeper than others, some are made deeper by the whining about them. Through time and counseling we can still hold on to the anger, sadness, and victim mentality; the feeling that they don’t deserve to get off the hook for the “incident.” I have to say for myself that even though the feeling has lessened over the years, there are people I worked for that hold a dark place in my heart. I guess this doesn’t show me being a beacon of Spirit and Light. LOL At least I am consciously trying to give up my entitlement to old ghosts of those experiences or of childhood. Always with the childhood. Hahah.

We all know the power of forgiveness. It is something that can lift a trunk full of stones and rocks from our backs. How do we get there? Sheesh, damn if I know. LOL I think there is a time when that trunk no longer matches the other luggage you are carrying and you are ready to cast it off. Sometimes it takes time but usually an acceptance and forward movement is needed for forgiveness to take hold. Sometimes it’s simply being OK that your plans weren’t as good as God/Universe’s plan is for you. Even though the journey may be rough and bumpy, where you are going is far more enjoyable. There were many men I put stock in who were clearly not for me but I purchased the ticket anyway. That journey got me here. Jobs that suck out your soul but for a purpose you may or may not later discover. The process of letting go of the pain or anger is as hard as giving up a favorite menu item. It’s a comforting friend, solace in knowing the devil you know verses the one that may or may not be around the corner.

The letting go may take many steps like screaming, raging, crying, numbness, need for validation, a pulpit that says you were wronged! At some point there is a time when these rocks get too heavy and you don’t want them anymore. That is the time when release and forgiveness can come in. Prayer, meditation, writing, drawing are all great but you need to make room in the heart and mind to let Grace, Peace, and Unconditional Love to move in. That spot in your heart where that “incident” happened just needs a smidgen of God’s good stuff to get in and clean the crevices like the Merry Maid service does. At a price that is just right!

Life is ongoing. There will be many more events, people, things to forgive and hopefully be forgiven for. I am ready to move on and make space for more of the good. Forgiveness is never about them, the so-called violators. It’s about giving ourselves freedom, letting the Universe take care of the residual karma. We can’t see the whole picture but the Universe can. No justifications needed. Not forgiving hurts us way more than it hurts others. Be good to yourself. You deserve it!

Hugs,
Jen

Well my crazy life is wonderful. I feel that I don’t always fit in, I am a bit off kilter and silly but am I friends with everybody, go figure. My roomie Jeanette*, Kirsten and I went to a goth/electronic/80′s/industrial club this past week-end. As always no matter where I go I have a great time but I had an especially super time this go round. I have been to Q’s numerous times but this time I really saw what utopia is like in black vinyl. There were many varieties of people, college kids, goths, cyber punks, the angry, the emo, the jaded, the happy, gay, trans-gendered and a small handful of NJ’s finest guidos. It occurred to me that even though the guidos were probably the most made fun of, they still were not harassed or thrown out because they were different. My idealism and heart filled with such joy due to this epiphany. I really would love the whole world to be like that dance floor.

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The word of the day: Expectations. Let’s scream as if we are on Pee Wee’s Playhouse! Expectations can make a good woman go bad. I will put myself to shame if it helps others or makes people laugh then I feel I have done my job. The highs and the lows of my life have all been subject to my personal expectations. At 13, I expected to marry Joey MacIntyre from NKOTB. It’s obvious that my high expectations were illusionary but it was still a blow to my heart. High expectations of friends, family or relationships have gotten me into trouble as well. Through my fault as well as other parties involved. Moral, Ethical or just plain wishing someone would treat me the way I treat them has given me much disappointment directly proportionate to the height of my expectations. This is prefaced by me not always expressing my needs/vice versa or the other party not able to honor my needs. I think many of us feel so close with people that we expect them to read our minds or be like us in thought and deed. Even if we all wish we didn’t have to ask for what we need or desire we still do in order to “communicate.” God awful isn’t it! LOL When communication works, much teamwork can be had and success comes more smoothly. Working on the same page or aiming for the same stars or future, your connection feels complete and love grows stronger as a result. Alas, we must cross the threshold of asking and being vulnerable.

My expectations for myself have been set too high and too low at times. It can be hard to find roll models for keeping a healthy balance of going after dreams or everyday tasks without wanting to kill yourself if you make a mistake or don’t accomplish in the area of desire. After my Mom died I was trying to do, do, do and task my grief away so I could get through the day. I figured because she had a stroke I would do a marathon in her honor. Mind you I had not exercised for a millennium back then. I went on ward hoe as it is in my Aires nature to act first, ask questions later. I started run/walking and did long runs on weekends. I was doing really good and got as high as 13 miles on Saturdays. My own personal financial issues with getting to the marathon as well as my own follow through slowed me, I lost momentum and bailed. Reaching for stars was great but my own inner cheerleader and those who were around was not enough for me to continue on my merry way. My expectations during a rough time were not really healthy at that point. My goal although meaningful kept me from processing one of the most painful times in my life, losing my Mommy!

I think we all confuse the idea of expectation in our heads. Somewhere in the brain we really are trying to make demands on ourself and others. I think its important to have standards even high ones but there is a certain level of communication one has to have with themselves or others. This chat is to really see if the expectation is what is best for us at that time, truly desired, or is based on “other peoples” wants for lives. Letting go of the idea IT MUST or I HAVE TO is key, as it lessens disappointment. If timely, there is an opportunity for discussion and a channel to intimacy with your Higher Self and the people in your world.

Thanks for being here for this wonderful and strange ride. I would really love to hear your thoughts on any of my blog subjects or any interesting stories in your world. Come on don’t be shy, we are all friends here!

Love and Hugs,

Jen

*Fabulous Queen Isis Kali known in the scene and lingerie Store goddess of RedCherryCheesecake.com fame!