True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.
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Hello, Lovelies!
This Quarter I am using The Sacred Forest Oracle by Denise Linn, with artwork by Scott Breidenthal, for my weekly oracle readings.
Our card to guide us for the week ahead is 6. Bluebell Fairy – GRATITUDE.
2023 is a year for change, creating solid foundations, and for spiritual journeying. It’s a year for personal growth, and for clarifying who you are, what you want, and why you are here.
July invites us to gain perspective in our lives, to rise above our troubles, and to leave the past in the past as we venture forward to what lies ahead.
6. Bluebell Fairy – GRATITUDE
Did you know that, energetically speaking, what you focus on is what you draw to you?
The energies around us are very sensitive to our thoughts and emotions right now. So, if you focus on problems and what is making you unhappy, and speak only about those things, you will be contributing to magnifying those vibrations in the world.
But there is another way. This week helps you redirect your focus to what is already good in your life, using the skills of gratitude and appreciation.
You may be wondering if it is appropriate to feel grateful and happy when the world around you is full of suffering, or if there is suffering in your own life. The truth is that there has always been suffering, and there will always be suffering – it is part of the human condition. But maintaining a focus on gratitude, especially in tough times, and while still acknowledging the difficulty and tragedy around you, helps you to develop emotional resilience and better coping skills.
Gratitude is the act of being thankful or actually giving thanks for the good that is in your life. It’s also a feeling that sits in your heart – so tune in this week – Where are you feeling grateful? Allow that feeling of gratitude to fill your heart and then radiate that feeling throughout your body, and if it is strong enough, out into the world around you. Know that the more you feel and practice gratitude, the more you will find to be grateful for in your life.
This week the acts of Gratitude and Appreciation will allow you to send positive energies out into the world, drawing more of those same energies back into the flow of your life.
So, no matter what your world looks like right now, choose gratitude and live from appreciation and you will be contributing to a surge in positive vibrations – for yourself, and the planet.
My Top Tip For The Week Ahead:
Appreciation is an act of mindfulness – where you involve your senses and dwell in the moment to assess and enjoy something with which you are actively engaged. It could be pausing with that first sip of coffee, lingering in a hug, closing your eyes and upturning your face to the sun, thinking for a moment of how lucky you are to have someone or something in your life and why you feel that way. This week slow down, practice mindfulness, and take pleasure from the many simple blessings in your life.
Stuck with creating a satisfying life for yourself or understanding your best direction forward? Maybe you need a session with me to bring some extra clarity and direction. Details here
Crystals to support you this week – Clear Quartz, Citrine, Turquoise, Green Aventurine, Lavender Quartz, Rose Quartz
Well, that was a lovely little adventure that Ben and I had! We managed to catch up with family, eat lots of amazing food, talk philosophy with new friends, catch a live show at the theatre, have a night on the town, have some nights home with loved ones talking and playing board games, and each day we walked miles as we explored our surrounds. I may have spent an exorbitant amount of time in bookshops too.
I had forgotten how wonderful it is to travel, and although I missed the pupsters and the quiet of the treehouse I really did love being in a different place, and soaking up all the new experiences.
You know I had the best of intentions, and I took all my materials with me, but I only got one solitary hour of writing done. Still, that’s okay. I topped up my tank, and I expect the words will flow again now that I am home and all inspired.
I’ve planned a longer trip on my own in the second half of September. It will be a writing holiday – the kind where I can sit in an Australian inner-city hotel and write all day and all night if I want to, and where room service, good coffee, interesting book shops and tasty treats are only a few steps away. Doesn’t that sound delicious! Well, it does to me anyway. I’ve already begun to pack for that. (I know, I know, it’s still 2 months away) So far my suitcase has blu tack, post-it notes, a range of index cards, butchers paper and crayons and a yoga mat. Ah, life goals… A friend I told was horrified and wondered why I hadn’t booked myself into a health resort or some kind of glamourous overseas retreat. But my writer friends get it. I’ll have a corner room up high, with a desk at the window overlooking the city, fast internet, and a bathtub. A good blank wall for sticking things too as well. What more could I want?
What would fill your cup? Can you plan for more of that?
Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Biggest love and hugs, Nicole xx
What fills my cup is being around family, and we are very far from family. This fall we will travel to see our older son and his family, who we have not seen since 2015 due to caring for an older family member. We are trusting that we will have everything we need to make the trip.
I’m grateful you’re getting out and about and enjoying yourselves. ☕️🌞
Gratitude is something some people don’t know how to show or worse feel