Authentic Insight

…but were afraid to ask! 

I was recently blessed with  the opportunity to receive Doreen Virtue’s new book,” The Angel Therapy Handbook” from Hay House for the purpose of reviewing it. I agreed to do so because I have Doreen Virtue’s Angel cards and I love them.  I have never read any of her books though. 

As a Reiki Master I am familiar with Angels and sense their presence.   I am now wondering how it is that I’ve never read one of Doreen’s books before.  All I can say is Wow! 

This book starts off rather simply with some basic information about angels, like their names, their hierarchy, and some of the different jobs they do.  Then Doreen launches into instructions on Mediumship followed by instructions on how to open your third eye, how to receive messages from your angels and how to do an angel reading. 

 In the Third part of the book she instructs Lightworkers on how to have and run a spiritually based business; how that will change your life, and how to deal with some of the challenges you will encounter.  This is a very thorough and well done book for someone with a casual interest in angels to someone who wants to develop their intuitive and healing talents and go into business.  Consider this book your road map to success!  

 I am happy I have it now… I wish I would have had this information several years ago when I was just beginning my public Reiki work.  I became attuned to work on my daughter, who was suffering with fibromyalgia.  I had been practicing on her and close friends for a few years before “coming out” publically as a Reiki Master.  

I knew that Reiki worked but going public and going into ”the business” was daunting and scary!   Even though I’ve been in business now for several years I still find Doreen’s book helpful and comforting.  I know I’m not alone in my journey and Doreen’s words resonate with me and comfort me.  Thanks Doreen! http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Therapy-Handbook-Doreen-Virtue/dp/1401918344/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

This holiday season I am revieving 3 books from Hay House.  The books they gave me this year were excellent!  I’m posting reviews in the order of my favorites… but there is not a loser in the group! 

The Real Solution, December 31, 2010

By 

Paula Kirsch (Northville, MI USA) – See all my reviews
  

If you are facing yet another year with weight loss on your list of resolutions… look no further. Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Weight Loss” is the book you’ll want to read (or listen to on tape.) This is not a “diet book” or your typical “weight loss” plan. In fact, I am recommeding this book to you whether you want to lose weight or not, if you are interseted in being on a spiritual path this book is your guide map. And if you really are wanting to lose weight this book will get you to the root issues that once dealt with, will end your life long struggle with weight problems! A Course In Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever

This review is from: The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way (Paperback)

This is the book you want to buy with your gift cards from the holidays! Dyer’s original “The Power of Intention” was packed with great insights… this edition is beautiful! It is a great gift to give to yourself or others! It’s also a great book to leave on the coffee table or in your office waiting room. Your clients and guests will thank you!The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way A Guide to Manifesting, December 31, 2010

By 

Paula Kirsch (Northville, MI USA) – See all my reviews
  

This review is from: Getting Into The Vortex: Guided Meditations CD and User Guide (Hardcover)

This book covers four areas:
General Well Being
Financiel Abundance
Physical Well-Being
Relationships

There are powerful meditations and there is a CD with the book. If you are a Jerry and Esther Hicks fan then this book is for you!Getting Into The Vortex: Guided Meditations CD and User Guide

We were staying in to do a lab exercise on optics in the Astronomy class.  Two of my regular lab partners and I were in class and we needed an optic bench.  This other girl in the class who we don’t really know was sitting at the bench behind us, so she joined the three of us. 

First we had to take a lens outside and figure out it’s focal strength and then take it in and mount it on the bench and answer the lab questions… and finally construct a telescope.  Well this girl takes physics… the 3 of us are not math or science majors, so we were kind of happy to have her in the group. 

The whole situation was like a twilight zone adventure.  Neither Mikka or I confronted the girl directly over the comment and because none of us heard the same things we all seemed to be operating in separate realities.    In the end we did get the answers with help from the Prof.  and the girl actually drew the final diagram correctly.  Part of the communication problem was my timidity in confronting someone with a confrontational attitude and clarifying what, exactly her “f*cking” problem was.   Although the lab was supposed to be about optics, it became a lab on perception vs reality… or pehaps illusions, both optical and situational.

Epilogue:

This was actually a very interesting evening.   I find that I learn more about life, my way of being, and how people interact in my classes than I do the actual subject matter.  Will I remember what I learned about the optics… I hope so (at least until the end of the semester) but the real value I see is the opportuntiy to interact with others in a challenging learning environment and to take away lessons and stories that illuminate facets of human nature, creativity and motivation.

This blog post arose out of my retelling the adventure to a friend…  The names here have been change to protect the innocent, as I recounted the story I realized that it reminded me of an account by Michael Crichton (one of my favorite authors) of an incident he experienced during a stay in Jamaica.  Amazing!  I didn’t have to leave Farmington Hills to have my adventure!  ;-)

Paula Kirsch

There is no failure… only evolution. 

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Kevin Young, Ken Anirudha Van Skaik and Taylore Vance like this.  

 

  

• Sylvia Becker-Hill I can agree when learning happens out of failure or do you refer to Darwin and his theorie of ’survival of the fittest’ and the failures will illiminate themselves? Or how do you mean that?about an hour ago ·LikeUnlike 

 

Wow!  Leave it to my friend and colleague Sylvia Becker-Hill  to help me delve deeper into a thought.  

After meditation this morning I thought about a comment someone made to me recently about “yet another failed relationship.”   The comment was made with a sense of utter failure and shame.  “There is no failure… only evolution” echoed in my being after this morning’s meditation.  

It occured to me that we do this thing to ourselves, as humans.  We beat ourselves up.   Most of us really don’t need any exterior enemies… our biggest enemy often lives inside our brain.  It’s like we’ve internalized every awful thing anyone has ever said to us… and it’s all right their waiting for us to make one false move.  

We put so much pressure on ourselves!    Yes there is heartache and dissappointment over failed relationships, or other “failings” in our lives.  But the truth is, there is no failure.  We are constantly changing, growing, evolving.  So while it may look like a string of broken dreams… what we are really seeing is the foundation being laid for success!    How do we reach success?  By not giving up!   

By consciously living a mindful life you can change your karma.     You have the power to create new patterns in your life!  You can replace the old critical tapes that play in your head to positive affirmations.   I don’t mean to make this sound easy… it’s not.  It is hard work.  It is the most difficult and most rewarding work there is.  It is why we are here.   There are practices like meditation, Reiki and Qigong that can calm the inner critic and make the work flow more smoothly.     

Qigong empowers those who feel powerless.  Meditation is the path to your true self.  Reiki can act as “meditation with training wheels” as it circulates stagnant energy and cleanses the auric field.   If you are an experienced meditator Reiki acts as meditation on steroids to get you to a state that is deeper than you would usually get to.  Either way Reiki gets more work, more karmic clearing done in a shorter amount of time and you feel really good when the session is done.

If you have never been able to meditate successfully in the past, try this approach.  Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight.  (You can sit in a chair or on the floor, whichever is most comfortable for you.)   Focus on your breath.  When a thought comes to your mind (yes, I said when, not if!) notice it and then turn again to focusing on your breath.  As you do this over a period of time you will connect with your inner self.  Emotions may arise, it is okay.  They will pass, just sit with them and allow them.  Know that by practicing this you are honoring the divine within yourself.  Your karma is changing as you practice.  

 If you would like to know more about this work that I describe and how you can lay a solid foundation for success email me at paula@paulakirsch.com to schedule a complementary phone comsultation. 

My forray into vegetarianism came accidentally.  I never planned on being a vegetarian… and in the spirit of full disclosure I do not claim to be a strict vegetarian, certainly not vegan!  I cook with eggs in my baked goods and indulge in Salmon about once a month.

If you know anything about the Enneagram, I am a Nine.  It is not lost on me that I am influenced by my friends!   I am aware of this tendency (and sometimes amused by it)… I find myself consciously picking apart my motivations quite often as a result.   I think that’s a good practice for anyone who is attempting to live mindfully.

Living alone meant that when I bought a Amish Roaster from the market I finished the whole chicken over several days… that’s a lot of chicken even if it is spread over 3 or 4 days.  The same story for making chicken salad!  Too much chicken!   The vegetables are a welcome change of pace! 

I am actually quite content to be mindful about what I eat.  And while I am careful to have some animal protein on occasion I enjoy the higher vibration I feel when I am living off the energy provided by the vegetables.  In my biology class the text book pointed out that the protein we get from plants is actually better than that from animals. 

The plants convert the energy of the sun directly, something we as humans can’t do.  They provide us energy that is most closely linked to the sun source!  I wonder if those textbook writers are vegetarians?  I can only go by my own experience and the semi-vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free diet seems to be working for me!  Bon appetit! 

Any one who knows me, knows I’ve often complained about living in Michigan.  It’s the winter that I don’t like.  However I have a new appreciation for the seasons.  I have come to love hiking and being in nature.  It seems to connect me to the natural rhythm of life. 

The seasons make sense and they help me make sense of my life.  They are a natural way of measuring progress, time, development… growth. 

I am committed to growth… both my own personal growth, and that of my clients as I assist them in their growth and development, leading to their success.  It is said that we never step into the same stream twice, and so it is with ourselves.  We change.  We are different from day to day. 

Don’t believe me?  Pay attention.  Develop a practice of meditation or even better yoga.   Then you can measure not only your mind, but also your body.  And you will see variances from day to day. 

Your practice may be difficult one day and easier the next.  Sometimes it feels like there is a set back.  What was easy last week is difficult now.  I have experienced this  on occassion.  You will too. 

Have faith, my friend.  Trust the process.  Not all is lost.  You are growing and changing all the time.  Hold a good intention and trust!   

When things become difficult it is often a time of great change and growth.   Imagine that you can not fail. (Because you can’t really.  Whatever you do moves you forward in the process.)

Remember that diamonds are merely pieces of common  coal transformed into great value under extreme pressure.  And that butterflies are moths transformed through a period of rest followed by struggle to escape their cocoon.  This is very much like being on a path and transforming your life by living mindfully.

I don’t usually comment about current events and I definitely don’t get involved in politics, but I feel compelled to comment on a couple of news stories that I’ve heard recently.  First of all I would like to point out that I don’t watch the news.  No; I am a reformed news junkie.  It was an occupational hazard from the days that I sold cable TV spots. (Ads). 

Back then I was an “all news, all the time” kind of gal.  I can tell you what I learned from that experience.  I learned that the news channels beat a story to death.  Our news is extremely slanted and I believe it is used to control the masses.  If we are all mourning the latest tragedy we won’t notice that some lobby group buttered up our legislators and now we are the ones who will pay.  Distraction is a great tool and I believe the news is used for that purpose quite often. 

Beyond distraction however, there are some things happening that remind me of historical injustices that are an embarrassment in US history.  Like how the Japanese Americans were treated during WWII in the internment camps, now seemingly unbelievable or at least they were before the Bush administration.  When we learned about them in school, my classmates and I were appalled at the horrible, shameful injustices.  Since those days we’ve seen similarities repeat in modern times, in the name of national security. 

So now I am reading about burning the Koran.  Why on earth would anyone get behind the burning of someone else’s religious text?  And why is it such a big deal that a Mosque is possibly going to be near Ground Zero?  This is the USA.  Freedom of religion anyone?

What I would like to know is: Why is there nothing built at the Ground Zero site yet?  It is like an open wound on the face of Manhattan.  We need to heal… but I see incident after incident that feeds the fire of hatred and prejudice.  It is born out of ignorance, this blind hatred that judges anything connected to Moslems, Islam or Arabs as bad. 

Our grandchildren, I believe will look back at this dark period of history, with shame and embarrassment, much as my classmates and I did over the Internment camps from WWII.  There is no logic behind burning a sacred text and no logic behind not allowing a Mosque in close proximity to the World Trade Center site. 

To be clear, I do not wish to sensationalize these events.  I would just like to go on record saying that as a Jew I have no problem with my Arabic or Moslem brethren.  Our cultures have more similarities than differences, and although all of mankind has common roots… these two cultures in particular are perhaps among the oldest and most closely related.  As we approach the Jewish new year of 5771 my wish is for peace and harmony among all peoples. L’shanah tovah!

I just received notice that this blog has been awarded top blog status!

I  recently attended the dress rehearsal of the first act of Tosca… my ex was a supernumerary in it. When my son, David, was little (10 yrs. old for Tosca) he was a boy soprano… Tosca was his first opera and he almost got the solo… it was between him a a 16 yr old girl. She got the solo… but David fell in love with the opera! (So did I!)

Being at the rehearsal was like being in a time machine… it seems like just yesterday that David was one of those little boys on stage! The performance was great… they all sang full voice… no one “marked” their part. They have such passion… what a wonderful way to live, doing what you love! I am so inspired by performing artists!

It’s not an easy life but they are compelled to be true to themselves! My son lives in NYC and like most actors waits tables in between his acting gigs.  There is constant uncertainty punctuated by the thrill of getting a part in a play and doing what you really love!  But I have to say that the actors all seem to bring passion and life to all these jobs no matter what they are!

When you are in love with life you can’t help but be alive and bring your environment to life where ever you are!  It is the only way to live!  Bravo!