Fear Dreams

Posted on April 26, 2014 by tsandhage


When I was 11 years old, I began having a dream where I was being chased by something which terrified me. I never looked back because I was so busy running. I would wake up sweating, breathing heavy, and my heart racing. After a week of this same dream every night, I woke up determined to quit dreaming this dream. I decided I would try to stop myself from running and turn around to see what was chasing me. I reasoned I probably couldn’t die in a dream but, even if I did die, it would be better than running every night. So, the next night I found myself running scared again. But I remembered my solution so I stopped and turned around to see what was chasing me. There was nothing there. If there had been something, it had evaporated into thin air.
I learned several things from this event. First, I can change and control my dreams and explore different options. I can rerun them until I find a solution I like, if I desire. Second, dreams can’t really kill you. Thirdly, fear may be there for a reason but the reason doesn’t matter if I’m willing to face my fears. If I face my fears, they will dissolve because of my resolve.
Fear is normally an illusion. Our Ego makes up situations that have happened in the past, builds on them, and suggests this is our future. The Ego also makes up scenarios that have never happened, are unlikely to ever happen, and acts as if they are fact. My body always responds to these Ego based fears as if they are currently happening. I’ve decided that part of living in the Present Moment is letting go of the Past. Not just letting go of the Past but refusing to allow it in my Present. Any time my Ego brings up a fear situation, Past or Future, I now Thank my Ego for its concern & bring myself back to the Present by focusing on my breath.
I have come to believe Life is to teach us about our power as individuals & as a collective. The sooner I leave Fear behind, the sooner I live a life of Peace & Love. It starts with my being peaceful & loving towards myself then radiates out from there. I’m looking forward to finding only Peace & Love within me. I’m not there but I’m closer.
How do you deal with your Fears?
Are you able to control your dreams?
Have you ever considered leaving all the Past behind you?
If you enjoyed this Post, please share it. Thank you!

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When Healthy Becomes Unhealthy

Posted on April 22, 2014 by tsandhage


In my last post I was struggling with some stress in my body and not entirely sure from where it had come. As part of removing my stress, I quit drinking a Green drink I’d been consuming for about 2 weeks. I decided to quit drinking it for 4 days to remove as much stress as possible from my body. I knew the Green drink was doing detoxing because I have an acidic diet and I was using the Green drink to get in my vegetables. Anyway, I wasn’t quitting the Green drink because I thought it was harming me. So, I did a lot of self-healing techniques during the 4 days and, by the end, I was feeling good again. I had decided the body challenges were from some energy I’d taken on from a client as my symptoms mirrored the client’s symptoms.
After the 4 days, I resumed the Green drink. Within an hour, all of my symptoms had returned. I was confused until I figured out the Green drink was the stressor. The 2 weeks of detoxing had been too stressful for my body and my body had resorted to pain to get my attention. At first, I was sad as I’d hoped this Green drink would help my energy levels. After being off the Green drink for a week, I felt good. Really good! I began having thoughts of doing things I hadn’t thought of doing for years like playing and expending unnecessary energy. This was new and unexpected.
The energy helped me realize the Green drink is doing me good. However, because of how much recovery I still have ahead of me, I need to do things more slowly than normal people. I have decided to go deeper into awareness and try the Green drink for the first 7 days of every month. Then I will not drink it for the remaining 23 or 24 days. In this way, the Green drink can help remove the inflammation from my body without overly stressing my body by improving the alkalinity of my body. As time improves my energy levels, I can begin to increase the time I use the Green drink until I am able to use it like a normal person. There is no rush.
For the first time in my journey, I actually am accepting there is no rush and this time is for me to learn the lessons I need to learn. I am also adding play, instead of more work, into my life. This is the first time I’ve not felt like I had to add more clients and take on more responsibilities with the improved energy. I think I’m finally getting the messages the Universe has been trying to drill into me all these years. I sure hope so.

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Acceptance

Posted on April 10, 2014 by tsandhage

Acceptance is a recurring theme for me. I desire to have boundless energy so very much. Any time I get a small improvement in energy, I vow I will use it to enjoy myself and do things I want to do. However, so far, I have always spent it trying to get things done I feel I’m supposed to do. It only takes a short period of time before I start to feel “symptoms” of dis-ease. First is fatigue and, like a child screaming, “I don’t want to take a nap” I tend to fight the fatigue. Next are physical symptoms. This time included pain through my spine, followed by a tight neck, and, lastly, a splitting headache. Even though I started taking care of myself when I felt the spinal pain, the remainder happened because it was too little too late. So, today, I am taking it easy. I’m spending time lying in the sun, making sure I eat good meals, meditating, and spending time outside. It is working. The headache is down to a slight roar, the back pain is gone, the neck pain has subsided but is willing to return at the slightest provocation.

I think part of the problem is I have a challenging time allowing myself to play or enjoy myself. I picked up the message, at some point in time, I am supposed to always be doing something productive. I must be building, repairing, cleaning, or taking care of something/someone else. Of course, there are loads of other things I’m allowed to do – all of which fall under the heading chores/work. Walking, bike riding, photography, reading are all things I enjoy but which are considered non-productive by that little voice in my head. I remember a time when I played with my horses and had fun. I also remember it became work when I took 4-H. After we moved to a farm, fun completely left my life. I just remember work and chores. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the farm. I enjoyed the animals, the land, the water, and all the other things Mother Nature had to offer. I just didn’t enjoy how life became about what “had” to be done instead of finding a life of what we wanted to do.

That’s in the past and I want to return my thinking to a life of enjoyment. I’m just not sure how to do that. Before, when I’ve wanted to change my life, I’ve always felt a need to kind of start over. Is there a way to find enjoyment without starting over? I guess the first thing I have to do is cut my list of things I must do down to bare minimum. I must add nothing that doesn’t spark an intense interest on my part; no joining/going to events which don’t inspire me in some way. I have to get out and go walking/biking among nature! I know that is essential. With the return of nice weather, it will be easier to get out. I will start with biking because I can sit down while I do it. That way I can take it really slowly (I have a trike) and rest when needed. I can enjoy the weather and Mother Nature and I need to schedule this so I have unlimited time. I could even take a sack lunch. 🙂 I’m smiling and this sounds fun. I have to start somewhere. Wish me luck!

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Mega Love

Posted on March 31, 2014 by tsandhage


I’ve just finished reading “The New Jim Crow.” First, I do not enjoy reading books like this one. Not because of what it has to say, I already know that stuff, but because it brings my energy way down. The focus of these books is always that we need to “do” something to “fix” the situation. However, the thing I really understand is there is no answer other than Love for how to fix all the situations in the world.
Recently, I read that the UN has a desire to change the idea of pursuing GNP (Gross National Product) to pursuing GNH (Gross National Happiness). Bhutan’s development policy is Gross National Happiness. You can read about the philosophy here: http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/. This is the direction we all need to go. We need to embrace the idea of the value and worthiness of every human being. There must be no exclusions based on conceived differences, past history, way of thinking, or any other currently divisive way of thinking.
If we approach our lives from Love, we must understand that everything people do, which is not based in Love, is a cry for help. People feel damaged, unworthy, have low self-esteem, and many other things which all say the same thing; they are hungry for Love. We must find a way to instill value in each individual so we can build a strength among us all based in Love.
As for the book, “The New Jim Crow,” I think we must begin by recognizing prisons do nothing worthwhile. Other countries have found ways to reduce their prison populations (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets). Rehabilitation is part of the answer. I’m sure there are other answers. However, we have to start somewhere. In our current system, we not only imprison people but we keep them imprisoned, once they are released, by denying food, housing, voting rights, and employment to them. These 4 items plus clothing are rights every person should have regardless of how they have lived their lives. Former inmates are not the only people punished. The other large group our country punishes are people who are impoverished. 47% of our country’s population lives below the poverty line. How can a country that prides itself on being the greatest country in the world allow this sort of situation to exist?
I know there is much to do. I also know it starts with each individual finding their Inner Light and source of Love. If we can each find the Love within us, that is secure and able to see the light in all beings, then the process of extending this Love to everyone around us will become easy and rapidly change the way we see and live in this world.
I wish us luck in the endeavor I see before us. I hope to contribute to helping others embrace the Love within.

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Illusion vs. Reality

Posted on March 22, 2014 by tsandhage

Today, I read my lesson from “A Course In Miracles” and I have been thinking about it ever since. It said, “I loose the world from all I thought it was.” In the text which followed it went on to say, “There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach. Not everyone is ready to accept it, and each one must go as far as he can let himself be led along the road to truth. He will return and go still farther, or perhaps step back a while and then return again. But healing is the gift of those who are prepared to learn there is no world and can accept the lesson now. Their readiness will bring the lesson to them in some form which they can understand and recognize. Some see it suddenly on point of death and rise to teach it. Others find it in experience that is not of this world, which shows them that the world does not exist because what they behold must be the truth, and yet it clearly contradicts the world. And some will find it in this course and in the exercises that we do today.” I share this so today’s writings may make some sense.

In 2000, I had an experience that changed my life. I have always cried with a deep ache in my heart when I see gorgeous pictures, especially of Mt McKinley (Denali) in Alaska. I’ve always wondered why I had such an extreme reaction so I decided to do a meditation and ask. I experienced myself in a place that I believe was where we go when we die. I felt such pure love and peace that I did not want to come back. I was told I had to come back and I was sent, after much disagreement from me. However, when I returned, the love and peace I felt while I was there came back with me. For 3 days, I was able to live in this very loving and peaceful place. At the time, Jeff was in Italy on a business trip. When he heard my voice, after my experience, he wanted to know what had happened because my voice sounded so different. He said he could feel the love over the phone because of my voice.

What I noticed during those 3 days included feeling empathy for everyone’s troubles but I was never drawn in to the troubles. I also felt love for everyone and people wanted to hug me, be near me, and tell me their stories. Okay, the story thing wasn’t new. People have always been inclined to stop me and tell me their stories. Regardless, I found myself deeply saddened when I woke to find myself experiencing all my old fears and emotions. So, since I know it is possible, I have dedicated myself to getting back to this place of pure love and peace.

Today’s lesson helped me realize many things that may seem crazy to many but now seem so clear to me. The place I went is reality. This world is not reality. The reason we choose to be born is to help bring the people of this world toward reality so everyone can live in pure love and peace. The reason some people can see/talk to dead people is because no one ever dies. If we didn’t get so caught up in this world’s illusions, we would all be able to see all souls at all times and talk to them because there would be no separation. If we didn’t get so caught up in this world’s illusions, we would all talk to the animals, trees, and everything else we see around us. In my experience, the world didn’t look any different. The difference lay in how reality worked. I could go anywhere with just a thought. I could hear and feel everything felt by everyone there. Many of us think of this ability as a liability but, if we are all experiencing pure love and peace, there is no liability only an uplifting experience.

Since my experience, I have been able to hear animals and I’ve been doing well in hearing people whether they are verbal with me or not. My husband has experienced this as well with me. At first, he was challenged by the experience but he has adapted. While we are both still amazed, when it happens, we are grateful for the experiences. Because of today’s lessons, I realize there are many ways the illusions of this world are being disassembled. Psychics, Communicators, Thought Leaders, Spiritual Guides, Spiritual Leaders are all helping us to realize our brilliance.

Another area I believe is helping us to understand the importance of removing the illusions is the increase of children with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Downs Syndrome, etc are all chances for us to learn the value of all souls regardless of the bodies in which they are encased. I believe these “disabilities” are actually more enlightened beings than ourselves. If we can allow them to teach us, we can increase our speed towards pure love and peace. In accepting the gifts of EVERYONE, we embrace the gifts of ourselves. I’m so excited about what the future holds!

I hope this has caused you to think. Feel free to share! It is one way of increasing the love and peace.

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Judgment

Posted on March 15, 2014 by tsandhage


After writing the blog about Enlightenment, I have been thinking a lot about judgment. While I was writing the blog, I realized it held some fundamental truths for me. The biggest being that to release judgment is a huge step towards enlightenment. So, as I do, I began thinking about all the ways judgments affect my life. I realized judgment affects pretty much everything I think. Some are more important than others. For instance, when I decide what I want to eat for breakfast, I am weighing the different food choices against what my body seems to desire and then I make a judgment/decision as to which food best suits me that morning. Many decisions are judgments. These judgments are only important in whether I am attached to the decision. If I am attached, then maybe I need to consider why that decision/judgment is so important to me and whether I release whatever is causing the importance.

Other judgments, which rank a little higher in importance for releasing, like getting rid of “stuff” around the house and on our property, how to schedule my time, what extra curricular activities I choose, and whether I schedule time for me are more in line with judgments that tell me about myself. What do I value? What has a higher priority in my life? Do I put myself first or last? Why do I have so much “stuff?” Why do I fear getting rid of some things and not others. Why do I feel the need to make certain purchases? What do I need vs. what do I want? What do I mean when I say I want to simplify my life? What is my ideal life? How does it look? What does it feel like? How much can I let go of in my life? Can I live in such a way that I can leave my home, rent it to another, and then come back and be happy with what I find? The more I can release and be happy means both a life that is simple and a release of judgment.

The other thing that seems to go hand-in-hand with releasing judgment is to be more forgiving. I am doing really well with forgiving others. I need more forgiveness for myself. I realize that finding more forgiveness for myself means I will judge others less so there will be less need to forgive for others. I’ve always been very hard on myself so forgiveness for myself has always been difficult. I’m improving. I realize we all do the best we can at any point in time. I find I spend a lot of time in the past because I’m busy thinking about how I could have done things differently. I don’t desire to live in the past. I must forgive myself for decisions and actions, in the past, so I can live in the present.

Judgment and forgiveness. Two big ideas. I can see where forgiveness may be the larger issue. If I can find forgiveness for myself in all things then I’m more likely to be non-judgmental which means less need for forgiveness. Of course, recognizing where I am judgmental helps me realize where I need to implement more forgiveness. It’s a process and I forgive myself for being judgmental about my progress to Enlightenment being less than immediate.

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Hen & Noodles

Posted on February 28, 2014 by jbjones

This recipe can be done in a Pressure Cooker, Crock Pot, or on the stove top. If done in a Pressure Cooker or Crock Pot, you do not even have to thaw your chicken first. Yea!

Put about 1 – 2″ of water in bottom of container. Place bird in cooking medium of choice. I like to put something under the bird to hold it up out of the water but this doesn’t make any difference. It is simply something I do and gives me another item to clean.

Frozen:
If using a Pressure Cooker, a frozen bird will take approximately 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours. Once the jiggler starts making a steady sound, the bird will be done in 35 minutes.
In a Crock Pot, a frozen bird will take about 8 – 10 hours.

Unfrozen:
Pressure Cooker: 45 minutes to 1 hour. Once the jiggler starts making a steady sound, the bird will be done in 35 minutes.
Slow Cooker: 4 hours
Stove Top: 1 hour. Once the water is boiling, barely tip lid so steam can escape. Bird will be done in 1/2 hour.

Once finished, the bird should fall apart. If the legs don’t fall off or at least go noticeably wide, the bird is not done enough. If the bird is done, Place to the side, on a plate, and let rest while you make up the drop noodles.

Drop Noodles (store bought noodles can be used instead):

Add water to broth in pan. Fill pan until half full of broth/water mixture. Bring to a boil while making up the noodles.

I use 4 eggs for 2 people. Break eggs into a large bowl. Scramble with fork or whisk. I use a fork because I find it easier to mix in the flour with a fork. Add flour a bit at a time and mix in with eggs. Continue to add more flour until egg/flour mixture is stiff.

Once broth/water mix is boiling, I use a knife to place small pieces of the noodle mix into the boiling broth until the noodle mix is completely transferred. Turn off heat to pan and prepare to eat. So yummy! This is my “go to” recipe any time I want comfort, feel sickly, or want a meal in a hurry since I use the pressure cooker.

As an aside, if you live in a house were people only eat white or dark meat, feel free to use the bags of chicken pieces, found in the frozen foods section of the store, instead of a whole chicken to make this meal. The steps are exactly the same and you can customize it for whomever is eating the meal.

I like to make up several extra pieces and store them in the refrigerator for snacks on later days.

The broth can be frozen for 3 months or stored in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. I use the broth as the water when making up rice whether on the stove top or in a rice maker. if you have noodles left over, they are fabulous re-heated. I place the noodles and some broth in a microwave for 2 minutes on 50 – 60% power, stir the mix, and repeat the heating process.

These noodles could also be rolled out and made into dried noodles.

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Learning

Posted on February 28, 2014 by tsandhage


Learning is an ongoing journey. I will make mistakes because that is the only way to learn. I will refine my learning until it takes the form which is most pleasurable to me. Why am I writing about learning? Well, I have been using WordPress for a very short time but it is becoming extremely obvious I must spend the time to learn how to use it so I can use it to give me the blog appearance and user friendliness I desire. This requires me to not only go through the tutorials but to try things I wasn’t really ready to try and do things I wasn’t really wanting to do. So, this blog is more a WARNING that I will be doing things on here that are outside my comfort zone. I might mess things up or make changes I don’t like then I will have to figure out how to correct them. 🙂

I will try to make my learning useful and interesting and part of my Personal Journey which helps me grow not only in the blogging world but as a person. My first challenge is to use the Zero-to-Hero process to become familiar with the WordPress options. Then I will do the challenges WordPress posts, periodically.

Doing these things means I will be on here more and have a variety of things appearing. This will be an interesting journey. In the end, I want this site to have a variety of offerings for you. I want this page to be a place of postings for both myself and my husband, Jeff. I wish to not only blog about my Personal Journey but about trips and places I visit. I also want to include a section on Super Simple Recipes for 1 or 2 (http://cooking4oneortwo.wordpress.com/). I’ve started another blog for this but I want to incorporate it here. My interests are varied and I want to be able share things that will, hopefully, interest a number of people. Ideally, I’d like to also include a section on my business as a Feldenkrais Practitioner so people, locally or if you are ever in the area, will know my available hours for individual work and when/where I am offering classes.

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Ask The Question You Don’t Want To Ask

Posted on February 26, 2014 by jbjones

https://larkandbloom.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/ask-the-question-you-dont-want-to-ask/

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Easy Chicken

Posted on February 24, 2014 by jbjones

This recipe can use chicken, pork, beef, or any meat. I use the microwave but it can be done in an oven or on the stove top. I use the microwave so I can do other things while it is cooking and so it is done quickly.

Coat pieces of meat with real butter or oil of your choice. I prefer butter for the flavor but it works just as well with oil.

Place in a covered dish with the lid tipped so steam can escape. I cook chicken for 6 minutes. It all depends on the thickness of the meat and how much meat you are microwaving. You can always start with less time and add time. Just don’t overcook.

After the meat is cooked, I remove it and replace it with rice (not instant). Add twice as much water as rice to the dish. I also will add chicken bullion for extra flavor. Cook rice in the microwave with the lid on and tilted to allow steam to escape. I cook for 6 minutes. Again, you can always add more time, if needed. It’s okay if rice is a little wet when done as it will soak it up while standing in the dish.

Place chicken, rice, and any other sides you wish on a plate and enjoy!

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