Tag Archives: 2012

A week-long course in journalling – Day 1

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Want to join me for a week of free journalling instruction?  I’m a big fan of journalling, and have filled endless diaries and notebooks over the last 20-odd years. It’s a great way to get time alone with yourself, and it helps with that often difficult task of knowing ourselves, and all our messy hopes, dreams, desires, blocks and resistance. Over the next seven days I’m going to explore journalling as a tool for self-awareness, creativity and spiritual development.  From the seeds of writings in our journal, many positive things can grow. (thanks to greenphile for this image!)

Day 1 – Select your tools

The beginning of 2012 begs for the opportunity to begin a journal if you haven’t yet started one.  Part of the joy is in the selection of that new book. Yes, old-fashioned paper rather than a digital device.

 What size will you select?  What colour shall the cover be?  Will it be lined paper or blank unlined pages?  Spiral bound or glued spine?  Art diary to capture images as well as words?

And will you use pen, ink, pencil, crayons, or a combination of writing implements? You may even want to buy a snappy pencil case or tin to keep your writing tools in.  Perhaps you’ll favour stickers, or things cut from magazines that will need to be glued. Keep open to the possibilities, especially if you don’t consider yourself artistic!

(journal image by vichie81)

 

Task for the day:

Today, take the time to choose your journal and writing tools.  Let it be a gift of time and energy for yourself.  You may have things lying around the house that you could collect, you may need to buy something.  What matters most is that you decide to journal, and gather your materials together.  See you tomorrow, for some WRITING! ♥

(another beautiful photo by nuttakit)

 

January 1, 2012 – Contemplation, dreaming and divination

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Happy New Year, and welcome to the energies of 2012!  New Year’s Day is always a special time for me. I like to welcome the day with meditation, and then spend some time over the course of the day contemplating my year ahead, asking for spiritual guidance, and writing in my journal.  For me it is a day of planning and dreaming, and spending time with people and activities that matter to me.  (See my post on how you can work out what matters to you here)

I have one tarot deck that I use only for the first day of the new year.  I have done this for over 20 years, and it is something I look forward to as a touchstone to set the themes of my year and to live with greater awareness and understanding.  I don’t use it as a predictive tool – rather I use it for reflection, and to seek guidance about qualities, actions and perspectives that might benefit me over the next twelve months.

This morning I asked for one card for you – to give YOU guidance over the year ahead.  This is my personal interpretation of that card for you.  Take what resonates as truth for you, and discard the rest.

The CHARIOT – Guiding you into 2012

See 2012 as a year of great potential, as a year of great change.  Change will happen anyway, for that is the nature of this Universe, and of our lives, but to actively drive that change will bring better results for you this year, and give you the satisfaction of personal empowerment, rather than being in an energy of just letting things ‘happen’ to you.  Make sure that you are the driver of your own chariot – it is unwise to give away your power, especially in charting the direction of your life.

Equally, you will benefit from finding a rhythm between action/doing and periods of contemplation and quiet time that nurtures and replenishes you.  This is a year full of opportunity, but not all opportunities will be aligned with your skills, desires and purpose, no matter how attractive they may seem, so always take time to tune into your inner knowing, and ask yourself that most important of questions: ‘Will this choice or action honour me and serve my goals?‘

Give attention to the depth of your nature. You are a soul, having a human experience, and that experience is felt through the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Make time for each of these aspects, for when one is ignored it throws the others into imbalance, and the ramifications may cause the wheels to fall off your chariot, or at least slow you down as the tyres go flat.  This year can bring such momentum for you, so it is wise to ensure the stability of your ‘vehicle’ by acknowledging and honouring your complex nature so that you can keep pace with this momentum without breaking or causing peril to yourself or others. Be mindful to make your life, relationships and practices sustainable.  Be wary of over-committing and the propensity for this level of activity and stress to cause illness, depression and burnout. One again I want to emphasise seek balance between activity and quiet times.

Some of what you have sown in the past (and had feared would never come to pass) will finally be available for harvest this year, but keep sowing seeds for tomorrow, and the days and years to come.  Crops (of ideas, actions, thoughts etc) sown over 2012, and nurtured with enthusiasm, dedication and discipline will  bring encouraging yields for you in the times ahead.  Even if others are facing lean times, or talking of failure and doom, work diligently on your own dreams and trust in good outcomes.

Allow home to be your anchor this year – devote energy to your dwelling space and how it supports you, and spend time on the relationships that matter.  From that place of safe anchor then, dare to roam.  Plan travel, seek out events and places that broaden your horizons and increase your education, knowledge and awareness. (This could even be done through books and the arts too.)  Travel unfamiliar roads with an open heart and mind, but always hold the image of that safe anchor of home so that you stay oriented to who you truly are, and what truly matters in your life.

This is a time of great soul growth, bringing with it the potential for deeper spiritual connection and inner peace.  It is also a time for awakening to your innate talents, your psychic and metaphysical gifts, and the One-ness and inter-connection of all.  Meditation and regular practice of such things as walking, yoga, qi gung and other forms of mindful movement will help to centre you in truth and awareness and to create stability between the physical and non-physical aspects of yourself.  Seek teachers and activities that help you to grow in your chosen field; be that healing, writing, gardening, art or rocket science.

If you want to make over yourself, your relationships, your career or the world in some way, 2012 gives you an exceptional vehicle for making this positive change a reality.  But 2012 is merely a vehicle – you need to provide the fuel (through passion, health and energy), the direction (through clear goals and purpose) and the driver (you, rested and clear, and ready to take responsibility for your life).

Set clear boundaries, stand up for yourself and step into your power.  This truly can be your best year yet!  Love and Light, Nicole ♥ xx

Living authentically in 2012

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Most people I know who are ruled by ‘time’ (days governed by clocks, diaries, and heavy scheduling) are disconnected from themselves, each other, and the natural world.  Work, rush and worry occupy every space in their lives.  There is never enough time!  And that feeling of ‘running out of time’ always leads to pressure, stress, exhaustion and depression.  Does that sound like you?

In 2012, you can change how you relate to time by changing how you relate to the world around you.  In this place of flow and grace, you’ll find a natural rhythm and a calm wisdom that guides you towards making better choices, so that your life feels rich instead of fleeting.  When we honour our connection to the world around us, and to the people, places and activities that matter to us, our relationship to time changes – we get out of our heads and back into our bodies and our hearts.  We begin to live more authentically.  An authentic life is a life that is deliberate, aware and filled with meaning.

 

So how do you get started?  Find a spare few hours, and a quiet space, and then answer these simple questions.  Write your responses in a journal, where you can refer back to them, or expand on them at a later date.  What you are trying to discover is what matters most to you.

(Image by nuchylee – thank you!)

 

Cherished Dreams: Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do or become, or a place you want to visit, or an activity you want to try?  If it’s something you have already dabbled at, but there’s not enough space in your life for that thing right now, add some stars beside it!

Health and Lifestyle:  Health matters.  Without it, life becomes that much harder, our options fewer.  What do you know you need to do to have better health?  I’m not just talking good nutrition and exercise.  Maybe you need to get rid of credit card debt so you can sleep at night, maybe it’s time to move, or change jobs, or make other changes so that you have the time, the resources, the support and the inner happiness to embrace living healthily, and to have longevity to get done all the things that you love to do.

Place:  Where does your heart sing?  Inner city, wild coastlines, small towns, mountains?  Art galleries, op shops, concerts and cafes.  If you can’t live there, can you visit?  Can you find a way to include some of that energy in your life this year?

 

Nature:  Nature matters.  Spending time outdoors, sunshine, standing barefoot on sand and grass, walking in the rain, sitting under a tree, eating fresh food, gardening, caring for animals, listening to the birds – all of these things heal us and help us.  We are all interconnected, and part of the greater whole.  How much time do you spend in nature?

Heart Space:  Who matters to you?  Family, friends, lovers, people who share your interests?  Relationships and interaction enrich our lives, and help us to grow, to heal, and to be uplifted.  Life is nothing without love.  We all need support, and we all have wisdom to share with others.

Heart Purpose: Using our talents and gifts gives us emotional satisfaction.  It might be paid work, or the pay might be measured in satisfaction rather than money.  It might not even be your day job – you’ll know this work by how it makes you feel: you’d do it even if you weren’t getting paid.

Fun Stuff:  Surfing, eating mangoes, cryptic crosswords, travelling, music, garage sales, entertaining, reading, napping in hammocks.  This is the magic of life, and often these pleasures are quite ordinary, and easy to include in our day, or our year.

By making small windows of time for what really matters in our life – an hour for the gym, one night a week for art class, family dinner at the table instead of in front of tv, weekends camping or exploring the inner city – life’s texture begins to change and we begin living with integrity and authenticity.  These simple actions are a solid beginning. – and they can be world changing.  2012 – honour the energy of change, starting with yourself!

If you missed it yesterday, I also uploaded a simple guided meditation to help anchor you into the positive energies of 2012.  Wishing you every happiness, and an abundance of health, love, soul growth, creativity and good fortune for the coming year.  Love and Light, Nicole xx

(this image of Love and Light by moomsabuy)

Simple 2012 Guided Meditation for you

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I’ve recorded a very homespun meditation for you, to help you connect with the energies of this new year.  All you need to do is sit comfortably, close your eyes, and listen to my voice guiding you through the process.  You’ll find it easy, even if you’ve never really meditated before.

It also uses the technique of centering which I discussed in yesterday’s post. The most important thing is to relax, and be easy in your body, and have an intention of being open in heart and mind.

(Thanks to Evgeni Dinev for this beautiful image!)

2012 brings us so many opportunities for healing, growth, love and increased awareness.  My intent for you is that you are able to connect with this energy and experience positive transformation, happiness and contentment in the year ahead.

The following meditation takes approximately fifteen minutes, although you may stay in that space longer, if you wish. Just click on the link below. Sending you Blessings, Love and Light, Nicole xx

Nicole Cody’s 2012 Meditation MP3

Advice for struggling lovers and parents at Christmas…

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Thinking of ending a relationship or giving someone a long-overdue piece of your mind?  Want to throttle someone? Do you feel like a failure as a parent, or a partner? Thinking negative things about people you’re supposed to love? Breathe in.  Count to ten.  Exhale.  Repeat until calm.  Bad thoughts don’t make you a bad person.  Let’s re-examine things.

Christmas is a hard time for many; even when we love the idea of Christmas, even when there are things that we enjoy. Part of the problem is our expectation – that somehow peace on Earth and goodwill towards mankind will suddenly translate into family harmony. There is nothing like Christmas to bring us up close to the things we’ve ignored or put on the back burner throughout the year.  Plus we run out of days to make this year the year we promised ourselves it would be. The weight of all of that pressing down on us creates enormous stress.

2012 is breathing down our necks, already making her energies felt, calling us to pay attention, to live in awareness, making us edgy with these feelings of shift and change.

Add something else into the mix – exhaustion. Most people I know have hurtled through 2011, living on adrenalin and rush, rush, rush. Top that off with the madness that is Christmas and you have a recipe for self-doubt, self-criticism and lowered tolerance to the button pushers of life.

Have you ever seen an over-tired, hyped-up-on-sugar, edgy and over-stimulated toddler make a rational decision?  What happens if you get a bunch of them in the same room?  You get the picture.  Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.

No one talks about this stuff, but my 97 year old Nana has given me a heads up, and I’ve seen her information validated by years of having people confide their darkest thoughts, their deepest shames, and their secret fears. The following are things I’ve found to be true, and I hope that it gives you some comfort:

Parent Guilt: Every parent, at times, will resent their children or not like them, wish they’d never been born, or even have moments of pure blinding rage or hatred (though this is rarely expressed or acted upon).  Every parent will at times think about walking out. That is normal and human.  It will pass in the presence of love. Most parents fear they are not doing a good job, even when they are. So ease up on yourself. Be kind to yourself. Take some time out. Do what you can to get back to a place of calm and balance. Remind yourself that this will pass.

Partner Guilt: Every spouse (or person in a significant relationship), will have moments of resenting their partner, or not like them, or even have moments of pure blinding rage or hatred (though this is rarely expressed or acted upon).  Every spouse/partner will at times think about walking out or wish they’d chosen a different person. That is normal and human.  It will pass in the presence of love. It’s okay to take a break, to catch your breath, to feel mad or sad or any of those other things. Get some sleep, take care of your own needs, talk about what’s bothering you when you’re back in a place of calm. Love endures, and it endures all things, all seasons.

Soul mate relationships are like the formation of pearls. When a pearl is formed a tiny grain of sand gets into an oyster and irritates the hell out of it, until finally that grain of sand is transformed into a beautiful pearl. In the presence of love, irritations between you and your partner will help you both grow, and they’ll be smoothed out in the presence of love, until you have something of lasting beauty and value. Trust in love. It is a magical balm for all manner of ills.

How can you tell if it’s really over?  Sometimes you find that there’s nothing left.  No angry feelings or resentment, just a recognition that what was there has gone. That there is no longer enough common ground and connection, even if there is still some love. In that place of differences, pull back and re-evaluate. Get some rest, and some time out.  When we’re exhausted everything feels like hard work, and the emptiness we feel in our relationship might actually be the zombiness of burnout. Time on your own (even just a walk in the park) will help you sort things out, one way or the other. Rest gives energy, and energy renews relationships. Worries fade, and we can work with what we have to create something better between us. Sometimes it’s not broken, it’s just over. That’s okay too. Love and let go.

If the love vanishes, or fades away, and the moments of resentment get bigger, the not liking stronger, the blinding rage a regular visitor, pay attention to those red flags. Your heart is doing its best to get your attention, and let you know that this is no longer a healthy place to be.

Over time the anger and resentment can be replaced with something worse.  Indifference.  Indifference lets you stay in that place of no love, but it steals your Soul to do it. It damages everything and everyone around you as you tell yourself you are being dutiful, as you act from automatic pilot or that place of remoteness.  It ruins you for yourself, and steals your capacity for joy. In that place, in the absence of love, leave.  In relationships there needs to be love on both sides. Love on its own against indifference is a recipe for martyrdom.

The best gift you can give yourself and others this Christmas is kindness.  Christmas is not a time for hasty decisions.  But it can be a wonderful catalyst for awareness and change.  Be kind and compassionate with yourself. Make time to sit honestly with what is.  Take time to get to reconnect with your heart.

Be kind and compassionate with others.  Know that at times your buttons will be pressed this Season. That’s normal, and it will pass in the presence of Love.  Do your best to stay calm, to get some time for yourself, and to do things that make you happy.  Say no when you need to say no. If you are at a place of exhaustion and burnout, rest.  Plan changes for the year ahead so that you can heal and recover your energy and joy for life.

2012 is a year for aligning ourselves with our true nature and purpose. A good night’s sleep, some connection into fun and laughter and time with people we love will help us to make the most of the energy shifts ahead.

Sending you Love, Light and Energy. Wishing you Peace in your heart. ♥

 

 

(I can’t find the source for this pic, but I credit its maker, with thanks ♥)