If you have not yet received your complimentary copy of Chapter 1, entitled, "An Answered Cal"l, just go to the right sidebar and sign up for my newsletter. You'll have to confirm your subscription via email. Once you confirm, you'll receive a thank you letter with a link to your free download.  Enjoy!

Mahoal Nui Loa (Thank you very much) to everyone who is giving this chapter a read. I look forward to keeping you updated on the publishing process.

Love,
Mary 

Review: The Importance of Being Extraordinary: A 2 CD Set
by Wayne Dyer and Ekhart Tolle 

I really enjoyed feeling as if I were present in the room as Wayne Dyer and Ekhart Tolle sat and chatted for a spell. I began with the expectation that I would be sitting in on a lecture, with clearly defined bullet points and a list of lessons learned. What I found was that the lessons were gently woven into the context of a friendly conversation between two wise souls. Among other things, Wayne Dyer shared his transformation from a serious diagnosis to vibrant health; Ekhart Tolle shared the importance of staying in the flow of Spirit and avoiding the pitfalls of egoic thinking-- not in a lecturey way; more in a "been there; done that; not going through that again!" sort of way. I will listen to this conversation again. It was an enjoyable way to spend two hours and to experience beautiful spiritual principles aas they are masterfully applied in the lives of these highly conscious, heart-centered people.

Through their BookNook Bloggers' Community, Hay House was kind enough to provide me this collection for free in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Recently I joined the Blogger's Community at Hay House Book Nook. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to review Hay House products! Here is the review that I just posted on Amazon.

You Can Trust Your Life DVD set by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson

As I viewed this video of a workshop recorded live in London, I was delighted to find that I really felt as though I was participating in the workshop. Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson are two women who really practice the spiritual principles which they teach. They themselves are living examples of the positive effects of living from a space of self-love and positive affirmation. Throughout the workshop, they drive home these lessons, having audience members participate in their own elevation by immersing in self Love and in creating positive affirmations for various areas of their lives.

As I felt myself to be an audience member, I, too, practiced the assignments. I developed affirmations for the most challenging times in my day; for the morning as I awaken; and for the nighttime as I lay my head on my pillow. Creating positive expectation and perspective in circumstances where I might otherwise let negativity rule gave me a feeling of peaceful well-being and positive anticipation.

Initially, I wondered if this workshshop might be too beginner level for me. And there was "beginner level" work. Work which is valuable to begin with. We began with mirror work. I had often read of mirror work in Louise's books, but always as I was busy with reading, not stopping to practice and not feeling that I needed to do so. But as Louise looked in her mirror and said, quite tenderly, "I Love you, Louise; I really, really Love you," I cringed. Could I say that to myself? I paused the player, headed into the bathroom, and looked at myself. I began with my patterned behavior of noticing blemishes, tired eyes, and other reasons to be self-critical. Then I remembered Louise's instruction to look only with Love. I decided to look at myself the way that I think I must look at my family and friends when I really feel Love and appreciation for them. I had to think of them in order to glimpse my face in this way. And then I felt a warmth in connecting with myself, as I saw myself in a conscious state of Love. 

This self-doting felt awkward, but there was something else. I felt happy saying these sweet somethings to myself. I didn't quite believe it (which surprised me) but I did feel playful and happy. And it was great to see myself radiating Love rather than looking only for flaws when I glanced in the mirror.

I have been continuing with mirror work over these past two weeks, and I find that I am no longer instantly searching for flaws! Given the Law of Attraction, I'm grateful that I'll finally stop drawing more into my experience! In fact, I am beginning to feel joy, warmth, and affection when I see myself in the mirror. What wonderful energies to attract! There are times when I look in the mirror without paying attention, but after I've looked away, I suddenly remember. I feel like I do when I walk by my husband without stopping for a kiss. I go back to the mirror, just as I do my hubby, and give myself a burst of Love.

Cheryl, a founder in the field of Life Coaching, provided beautiful guidance and stories in living from the heart. Many audience questions surrounded the topic of unloving parents. Cheryl and Louise responded with compassion and powerful guidance to support adult children in honoring and Loving themselves, and in viewing offenders with a combination of a no-tolerance policy and compassion. Cheryl shared a beautiful and instructional story in which she transformed a tense, ego-driven conflict into a loving exchange as she tapped into the Universal energy of Love.

When I was finished with this program, I really felt as though I'd been able to enjoy the workshop, even though for parts of it I was cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen, and preparing props for a workshop of my own. I didn't have to travel to London, as many who were gathered on the day of the filming did, and I reaped great benefit from my participation. I'm sure that I will watch this program again and again.

Hay House was kind enough to gift this DVD set to me through their BookNook blog program, in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. No other compensation is being given to me. However, I found this program to be so beneficial that I will be buying it, at my expense, in the future to give as gifts. 

Good Morning,

It is 12-22-12. I am awake, witnessing the First Dawn of the New Dawn-- the start of a new cycle in time in which the energies of the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine are brought into balance and harmony through the Earthplane. This begins with an increase in the feminine.

This morning as I lay in meditation, I found my awareness drifting to many expressions of fear upon the planet-- greed, to the point of hoarding; political parties bent upon distributing resources among a small representation of the people: landowners decimating prisitine forests in pursuit of small vials of gold dust; female cirucumcision; bullying; oppression of many forms and throughout many parts of the world. And then I was shown, rising up from the hearts of each one of these "perpetrators," bubbles of fear. Fears of running out, of being left behind, of being overpowered... many many fears, each one an indication of the absence of awareness of our Oneness with Love, with One another, and with infinite abundance and well-Being.

With each group which I perceived, I witnessed bubbles which covered the earth and cast their dark shadows over the planet. I was shown three ways in which we may be of service to Love and ease these fears for others. First, I was given a net in which to gather these fear bubbles-- the weave of the net was of a sparkling, pink Light-- the Sacred Feminine, the nurturant, comforting, holding Mother energy of the Divine. With this net I scooped up these fear bubbles. I was reminded of the Law of Attraction, in which fear is really just the flip side of a desire. Those with a fear of lack have a desire for security. Those who fear oppression have a desire for inner peace. Those who fear isolation have a desire for unity. With the pink net, I was energetically eliminating fears by giving each soul what it truly desired, and this was represented in the form of a Dove flying free from each bubble as it bumped up against the net of Pink Light. Where fear once cast a long shadow a Dove now soared joyously.

Next with my arms I scooped up more fears and brought them into a filter of Love-- my own Sacred Heart, already attuned and aligned with the One Heart. As I brought these fears into my heart, I allowed myself to feel only Love. And with this came the third method showed to me. I began to cradle these fears in my arms, and as I did so they revealed their true indentity-- beautiful, frightened infants, whom I held tenderly and rocked and kissed, witnessing as they became peaceful, feeling absolute Love and adoration for these beautiful little beings, seeing them in all their beauty and wholeness. As they became soothed of fear, these precious infants settled into peaceful sleep. Swaddled in Love, I laid them down to sleep and picked up the next raging fear. The tenderness I felt for each precious inant gave me a beautiful sense of anticipation as I soothed the next fear, and the process of healing, through the simple administration of Love, became rapid.

Last night I had the honor of joining my Soul Sister, Kathy Milano, as she guided a group of Lightworkers to Dream the Future for our children, and for the next seven generations. As I allowed Love to heal fear this morning, I realized that every single thing that I dream for these seven generations of my own babies is right there, waiting to be visible once we have cleared our world of its configurations of fear. I am ready; I am willing, to do the work. I am grateful that it is so very easy for each one of us to do!

Recently Kathy asked me to paint some lettering on the walls at Soul Sanctuary. A myrial of questions encircle the room: "Who am I? Why am I here? How do I heal the world..." There are many questions. There is only one answer. Large letters in the center of the long wall read: "Love is the Answer." It is such a simple truth: Whatever the question, Love is the Answer. We begin in our hearts; we follow the action steps which Love guides us toward, and we bring our dreams to life. Fear is just a bubble-- it cannot stop Love and when met with Love it breathes a huge sigh of relief and becomes all that it forgot it could be. When others are steeped in fear, we can meet them with Love and provide the energy that they need to illuminate the shadows, that all may live in Peace, Love, Harmony, Vibrant Health and Abundant Well-Being. Thank you for living in your heart-- it is invaluable not only for yourself, but for All, as we are All One.

On one such occasion, I was heading home from visiting friends. At seventeen years of age, I had been a licensed driver for a few glorious weeks.  I was proudly driving my 1972 Ford Maverick-- several years removed from the days of its mechanical prime. If The Mav was willing to go, so was I; the two of us travelled merrily about the county, blissfully unconcerned with the need for a car to be reliably working in order to make it safely through the journey. I was now driving alone along an unfamiliar, winding road. As I approached a railroad track, followed by a bend in the road, my engine began to sputter. The Mav slowed to a painful, jerking crawl. As we staggered forward, I pressed my foot fervently on the gas, willing the car to go just a little further. We had to make it past that railroad track! I had a long standing fear of being stuck on a railroad track, and here I was, brand new to driving and sputtering straight toward that very doom! (Law of Attraction, anyone?)

You may wonder how it did not occur to me to pull over before reaching the track; I suppose I just expected that the car would somehow find its equilibrium and suddenly kick back into gear. So I pushed on, The Mav spitting its way toward the track where, you guessed it, we chugged to a stop. A dead stop. And then, in the distance, I heard it--the rumble of a train. Panic grabbed me up in an instant. But even as I felt my stomach clench and my throat constrict, my foot still flooring the unresponsive gas pedal, the prayer of its own accord found its way out--more a gasp than a shout, "Lord, Jesus Christ have mercy on me!" As the prayer escaped my lips, The Mav sprang to life, shooting forward with such a burst of speed that I cut clean across the curve, into the opposing lane where, mercifully, no oncoming traffic lay in wait. Grateful for our protection, we continued on home smoothly and easily. By the time I reached home 30 minutes later, it did not occur to me to report to my father that I'd experienced any mechanical difficulty. God had answered my prayer; The Mav and I were still around, ready for our next adventure.

I was challenged with this comparison as a coed when an assertiveness coach asked me if it was hard for me to say, "I love you." Was it? Not to my parents and siblings, grandparents, an occaisional boyfriend. But how about to others whom I truly did love, like my closest girlfriends, those with whom I bared my soul on a daily basis? What did I tell them as I hugged them goodbye at the end of the day? "Love you!"

I answered my coach that I thought the two terms meant the same thing, to which she replied, "Try it. Own your statements. Own your emotions." "Okay," I shrugged, confident of the ease in the slight adjustment of language.

Later that night, hangout time! And then, what did I say as I hugged my pals goodnight? "Love you!" Not because I'd spoken out of habit, but because suddenly, the ability to form that one simple vowel, "I", caused my heart to first freeze and then to pound wildly in panic, and then to scream a stop order at me to cease and desist this instant! Wow! What a shock! It was hard to take ownership of Love-- what would my friends think? Would I weird them out? Would I scare them away? Did I truly love them? Yes, I believe that I did. But did I trust them enough with my heart to tell them that so completely? No. I did not. I did not trust our culture-- whose mores reverberated a message of danger at the failure to keep one's heart under wraps-- it was not safe to truly claim, out loud and for another's ears to hear, the truth of my heart.

For a while, I played it safe with "Love You". But I was struck by the contrast-- the ease of saying, "Love You!" compared to the great difficulty, but also the tremendous truth, in actually saying, "I Love You." Eventually, the contrast became glaring, and I realized that as I was throwing "Love You's" around with ease, my heart was aching with my own betrayal, with the withholding of the extent of the the Love which I longed to share.

Then began my journey of spiritual exploration. This road that I have traveled with the Angels and with many great teachers, both physical and etheric, has repeatedly driven home a core lesson: We are here to Love. We are here to remember ourselves as Love, to Love ourselves, to Love one another, to Love the All. Withholding Love no longer works for me. I cannot hope to be a messenger, a radiator, of Love (as each of us is in our own way) and withhold from honestly claiming my truth by hiding from those three little words, "I Love You."

And so somewhere along this magnificent, mystical journey I began to be honest with people. If I love you, I tell you so. Would you like to know how people react? Mostly, with Love in return! Often, first with surprise, even shock that I have uttered this secret truth, then with joy and an honest burst of, "I Love You, too!" Sometimes, I have a feeling that a person will not be comfortable in receiving this truth; yet still, I must be honest. I can handle such discomfort-- the downward glances, the shuffling feet. Perhaps, at some other time, these recipients will sit with the message and allow themselves to receive the Love. And I have seen what happens when the truth of Love is acknowledged-- it grows. We know enough about energy to know that when we make changes in our own consciousness, in our own hearts, we change the collective. We raise ourselves steadily to the vibration of Love every time we acknowledge it-- first to ourselves, and then to one another. And when another joins in with us in the recognition of Love, the energy is amplified all the more-- the collective vibration is further attuned to Love's great thrum. I love you. Three simple words. One act of courage. Boundless rewards. Go for it!

P.S. I Love YOU!!!

A few hours later, I was out walking with my family. We walked down our long block, until we came to the backyard of the last house, which faces the river. It is probably over 1/2 mile from the point along the river where I had noticed the tumbling bag. As we turned with the sidewalk, a motion caught my attention. I turned to see that same, small black bag, tumbling along on the breeze, coming right to me like a small dog seeking some affection. "Well, what do you know! I guess the fairies got it to someone who will take action!" I laughed and shared the story with my family. 

A part of me thought, "really? I cannot be the only person who would care enough to do something with this bag!" But I knew better. I often come across people walking through the river's park, bags in hand, collecting trash as they stroll. So why come to me? A few days later, I shared the story with my friend, Antinea, a fellow channel for the Council of Love.  She emailed me later that day to say that the fairies wanted me to know that they brought the bag to me so that I could see, once again, that my prayers are heard and answered. They wanted me to know, also, that they are on the job, collaborating with humanity to care for our precious planet. It's great to be heard. And it's great to know that we can team up with the many beings of the Divine Realm who avail themselves to us and to the cause of Love.