2012 ~ The Year to Discover Your Life's Purpose
But in order to co-create a life that's in alignment with your highest path and purpose, you need to know who you are at Soul level, and what you're here to do. In 2012, you will have greater opportunities to gain a clearer understanding of yourself as a spiritual being, and to discover your Life's Purpose.
As this spiritual doorway opens for you, you will be asked to step onto a path of greater service. But how do you begin?
One simple thing you can do to find your next step is to practice the following exercise:
- Find a place where you won't be disturbed for 10-15 minutes.
- Come to a comfortable seated position and center yourself.
- Silently ask yourself the following question, "How shall I serve?"
- Sit quietly and wait for the answer. Allow it to come in whatever form it takes. Don't judge.
- Write down whatever information you receive.
- Sit quietly and meditate on the message.
- Then act on it as you go about your day.
By practicing this exercise on a daily basis, you will not only gain a specific plan of action, but you'll also begin to create a life that's in alignment with your Highest Path and Purpose!
Blessings,
Mary
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
How to Stay Balanced During the Holidays
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by Mary Riposo, PhD
As we enter the month of December, our thoughts turn to giving. The holiday season can be a whirlwind of activity, as we fill our evenings and weekends with shopping, parties, and events. Our attempts to create meaningful experiences for our loved ones can not only drain our pocketbooks, but also sap our energy at this time of the year, resulting in depression, anxiety, and even physical illness that can linger into the new year.
When we chronically overextend ourselves, our energy fields lose their state of balance; in essence, we're giving out more energy than we're taking in. When our focus is on giving, we're less open to receive. I believe that the simple act of receiving can be the key to maintaining balance during the busy holiday season.
This month, I encourage you to make an intention to be open to receive. There is infinite energy available to us at all times, but we must be open to receive it in order to maintain balance in our lives.
One simple thing you can do is pause and check in with yourself. When you focus on giving, you place your attention outside of yourself; so pause, breathe, and take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask yourself what you need. Then give yourself whatever you need; and if you can't do it in that moment, do it as soon as you can.
Consider it a gift, whether it's a cup of tea, an afternoon nap, or a sweater. Then really open to receive that gift; feel the energy of the gift as you receive it; let it fill you up. Hint: if you do the same when someone else gives you a gift, no matter what it is, you'll be well on your way to restoring balance in your life.
Blessings, Mary |
Are Past Life Issues Blocking You? (Part 1-Abundance)
If this describes you, you're not alone! In fact, I hear from people on a regular basis who tell me they're having difficulty manifesting abundance in their lives. These are gifted healers who have dedicated their lives to helping others, yet can't seem to get ahead. Yes, they make money but they can't seem to hold onto it (as soon as the money comes in, something happens to drain their bank account). Many of these beautiful souls end up living week to week, and they and their families suffer for it. It always breaks my heart to hear their stories. I can relate, because I've lived through it.
When I first started out as a healing practitioner, I had trouble charging for my services and worked long hours, often seeing up to nine clients a day (and giving away sessions for free). It wasn't until I developed fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and adrenal insufficiency that I began to ask the bigger questions, such as, "why have I created this pattern in my life?" and "what can I do to clear it?".
It was only when I learned to read my own Akashic Record that I understood the source of the pattern I had created, and how to resolve it. For me, it was related to my past lives as a spiritual seeker. I had lived a monastic lifestyle in many of my past lives, and had made vows of poverty, which I carried over into my current life. I looked around and realized I had recreated the life of a Monk! I was living in a studio apartment, making barely enough to cover my basic necessities, and working long hours in a service oriented profession. I laughed out loud when I realized just what was happening!
Since that time, I've successfully cleared the energetic patterns that were blocking my ability to manifest what I need, and I joyfully embrace the abundance that's available to me, which has allowed me to fully step into my life's purpose. I now have a successful business as a healer and a spiritual teacher.
If you relate to my story, I encourage you to consider scheduling an Akashic Records consultation with me or signing up for one of my classes. I understand where you're coming from and I can help you clear the blockages to living your sacred purpose on Earth.
Blessings,
Mary
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
What is Your Purpose in Life?
There is much being written and talked about these days on the topic of our Life's Purpose. But, despite all of the media coverage, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the topic of Life Purpose; including what it is, how to discover it, and what to do once you've found it. As a Life Purpose guide, I get a lot of questions on this topic.
Most people come to me with the question, "What am I meant to do with my life?" This can be a great opportunity to delve deeper into the bigger questions, including "Who am I?" and “Why am I here?”; for it is only when you know yourself at the deepest level that you can truly understand and begin to live your Life's Purpose.
Each of us has a unique purpose in life, which can be defined as the way in which we are to make our larger Soul's Purpose manifest on Earth. As human beings, we collectively have a Life Purpose of deeply connecting with our Divine nature and expressing that truth in every moment. However, each of us will do that in a slightly different way. In fact, we are each given gifts which inform us of the way to express our unique Life’s Purpose. Once you realize the gifts you've been given, you can begin to use those gifts to fulfill your Life's Purpose.
So just what is your Life's Purpose; and what is it not? Your Life's Purpose is essentially how you are meant to affect humanity. It is your unique contribution to the world; not in terms of the job or career you choose, but what you are here to teach others. You may choose to express your Life's Purpose within your job or career, but your Life's Purpose is much bigger than a job or career. It will manifest throughout your life, and even though it will not essentially change, it will grow with you as you evolve spiritually.
There are many ways to discover your Life's Purpose. In my practice, I use a variety of strategies to help you tap into your Life's Purpose, including meditation, guided visualization, inquiry, and connecting with your intuition (i.e; Higher Self). I also offer intuitive consultations, which will help you to uncover and understand your Life’s Purpose from a spiritual perspective.
Anyone can discover their Life's Purpose with a little work, but it’s helpful to have a guide who knows the territory and holds the map of where you're going. It can mean the difference between receiving clarity and meaning in your life now, and wandering alone for years trying to find your way in the dark alone. So if you’re ready to answer the call to live your best life, I invite you to contact me today!
Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo, PhD
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Do You Suffer from "Isolated Healer Syndrome"?
I want to share a story with you. When I first started practicing Reiki professionally, I was so enthusiastic that ended up feeling like Joel Fleischman in Northern Exposure. Do you remember the TV series "Northern Exposure"? It was one of my all-time favorite shows- it aired in the early 1990's and featured Rob Morrow as a medical school graduate who was required to work in a remote part of Alaska after graduation as part of his scholarship agreement. He ends up feeling totally isolated from the life he left in New York. In essence, Joel suffered from what I call "Isolated Healer Syndrome", a term I made up to describe what happens when healers totally immerse themselves in their work and become isolated, neglecting their own needs in the process.
So back to my story. When I first began practicing Reiki professionally, I was so enthusiastic about the work I was doing that at one point I was doing up to nine Reiki sessions a day. I loved working with the energy so much that I didn't consider that I might be overdoing it. In the process, I had stopped scheduling regular Reiki sessions for myself, and had virtually cut myself off from interacting with other Reiki practitioners. Can you relate to this? Maybe you don't do nine Reiki sessions a day, but most Reiki practitioners I know are pretty selfless and do much more for others than they do for themselves.
Needless to say, I learned pretty quickly that I couldn't keep up that pace, and that I wasn't doing anyone a favor by pushing myself so hard. In the end, I learned some valuable life lessons; that you must continually refill your own well in order to be able to give to others, and that being surrounded by a supportive community of healers is crucial to your own well being.
That's one of the reasons I offer an annual Reiki Retreat. The Reiki Retreat is a day long event that offers the opportunity for Reiki practitioners to come together to refill our own wells, and to reunite as a community of healers. I truly believe that if we are to be of service to others, we must be of service to ourselves first. If you're suffering from "Isolated Healer Syndrome", or you feel you're at risk for it, please consider joining me for the Reiki Retreat. This year's Reiki Retreat will be held on Saturday, August 20 in Syracuse, NY. The Reiki Retreat is a day long event that is filled with opportunities for learning, fun, and community. For more information and to register, go to www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com and click on the Reiki Retreat tab on the left side of the page.
Hope to see you there!
Blessings,
Mary
Interview with Bill Yoder, author of "The Happy Mind- Seven Principles to Clear Your Head and Lift Your Heart"
Hi Bill,
It's a pleasure to interview you about your newest book, "The Happy Mind". The Happy Mind approach offers us an opportunity to start thinking differently about happiness. It allows us to make happiness the starting point and not the destination, the driving force and not a whim of fortune. I really enjoyed reading your book and I think my readers will, too. How is it that you came to develop the principles in your book?
For the past 45 years, I have been studying Eastern and Western philosophy and religion searching for answers to the “big” questions: What’s going on? Why are we here? What’s the meaning and purpose of life? The driving force behind such questions was my desire to improve the quality of my life: to experience an inner sense of peace and well-being—in short, more happiness. This is not merely a selfish quest, since an inner sense of serenity and well-being is the wellspring of genuine compassion and unconditional love. And of course it works the other way as well: when we extend compassion and love to others, it brings us joy.
So over the years, I’ve come to focus on the question of happiness itself: Where does happiness come from? What causes unhappiness? How can we shift from unhappiness back to happiness?
I’ve discovered that happiness is our natural inner state of being, rather than an outer state of affairs. Whenever we are upset, it is because we are blocking our own awareness of our inner happiness. Ultimately, those inner obstacles are based on a few core beliefs that we have simply inherited from our culture. If we can shift those core beliefs, we can open ourselves to experience the deep and lasting happiness that is our true nature. The Happy Mind develops an alternative set of core beliefs that can help us to open our minds to that deeper self-awareness which is the essence of true happiness.
Q- The first principle you outline is the principle of "One Power"; that power being the infinite eternal creative potential forever expanding well-being; in essence, the power of love itself. I consciously choose to live by this principle, and it's what I teach in my Reiki classes. Yet, my students still struggle with this idea and many of them feel the need to shield themselves from "bad energy" or "evil influences". Can you explain this from your perspective?
The principle of one power is the core belief that there is only one power or source, and that power is love—the infinite eternal creative potential for ever-expanding well-being. The other possible core belief is a belief in two-powers—the belief that there is a second power that can block or limit or threaten the power of love. You are always believing in one or the other of these core beliefs, even if only subconsciously. You start off in a two-power way of thinking, since that is the dominant thought pattern of our culture. This means you experience your life as a mixture of good and bad.
But whenever you experience badness or evil, you can interpret that experience in one of two ways. You can choose to believe that the reason you’re experiencing evil is that there really is evil out there. Then it would be appropriate to feel afraid, to shield yourself from the evil influence, or to attack it and overcome it.
Or you can choose to interpret your experience of evil from a perspective of one-power. This way of thinking would say that you are experiencing darkness not because there really is some power for darkness, but simply because your own eyes are partially shut. In other words, the darkness you perceive in the world is only a reflection of the darkness you are projecting. The answer is not to fearfully attack the darkness or fearfully defend yourself against it. The most appropriate response is simply to extend more love.
You don’t always get to choose when you perceive evil and feel fear. But you can always choose how you will interpret and respond to it. Your choices are fear or love. Your response will either reinforce the illusion of evil or dispel it.
Q- You describe how our culture tends to take a "technique approach to life and happiness". We read books, take classes, and try some of the approaches we learned for a while, but never seem to be satisfied or to achieve happiness. Can you explain what's going on here?
We start in a way of thinking based on a foundational belief in two powers. That way of thinking necessarily adds elements of fear and conflict to every experience we can possibly have. A “technique approach” gives us tools to deal with our many experiences of fear and conflict. But if we don’t actually change the foundations of our whole way of thinking, we will continue to make more “problem experiences” for ourselves. If we believe that we are separate from the source of our good, then we will always experience our lives as limited and lacking in some way, no matter how many techniques we use to manipulate and change the world.
This is not to say that all of these various techniques are wrong. Indeed, they may be extremely helpful in dealing with particular problems in our daily lives. But to really experience deep and lasting happiness, we have to change those underlying core beliefs that give rise all of our experiences of fear and lack and threat. Otherwise we will spend our whole lives just battling the symptoms, but never really healing the underlying “disease,” the underlying illusion of the absence of love.
Q- A large part of my practice focuses on the past. In the past life readings and past life regression sessions that I offer, I help people release the perceived influences of their past with the goal of manifesting happiness in the present. Can you talk about time and how it influences our thinking in this regard?
The real focus of The Happy Mind is the beliefs and thoughts that shape and color our experiences. We ourselves add all of the meaning that we find in our experience, and the perceived meaning of our experience determines how we feel. So my book tries to find the few underlying core beliefs that lie at the foundations of all of our other beliefs and thoughts. Changing those core beliefs is essential to changing the quality and feeling of our life experience. In other words, healing our lives means healing the inner thought patterns that are blocking our awareness of love’s presence.
One possible way to understand these inner thought patterns is in terms of “the past.” From this perspective, previous experiences that left some lingering influence in our current thought patterns will continue to determine the quality of our life experience now. So it is helpful then to uncover, heal and release any limiting thoughts from previous experiences. This whole process of uncovering and healing the past can be extremely helpful in healing the present.
I say that this is “one possible way,” because I believe that sometimes we can heal our present thought patterns directly without reference to the past. For me, “the past’ is ultimately just a story that we are telling ourselves now, consciously or subconsciously, It doesn’t actually “exist” now, except in our memories. However, virtually everyone in our culture believes in the reality of time and the past. This belief has deep roots in our psyche both collectively and individually. In that context, ‘healing the past” may be an essential part of healing the present.
The important issue is releasing our limiting thought patterns now. So for me, it doesn’t make any real difference whether we do this by using a framework of past life regression, or a framework of remembering my deepest inner truth now. It all depends what is the most effective approach for the person you are trying to help. Both approaches can arrive at the same destination of deep inner peace and joy.
Q- Many of us have fearful thoughts that block our experience of happiness and love. Can you offer one simple tool we can use right away to begin to allow happiness into our lives?
One simple tool that can help you to shift from unhappiness to happiness is wonderful opportunity exercise. When you are upset, it is because you yourself are blocking your inner happiness. You are blaming your upsetness on someone or something else, but it is really caused by your own thoughts. So you can think of the person or situation you are upset about as a wonderful opportunity to uncover and let go of your own inner obstacles. Until you let go of those thoughts, they are always working in the background to limit and sabotage your happiness. Every situation in which you feel upset can become wonderful opportunity to uncover your own self-deception, and open yourself to a whole new level of happiness.
This does not mean that the situation you’re facing is wonderful. It means that if you are upset now, that upsetness is coming from inside yourself. It is being caused by you blocking your own deeper self-awareness. So any situation that brings those inner obstacles to light can serve as a wonderful opportunity for you to discover and heal the real cause of your unhappiness.
Q- Thank you , Bill, for your wonderful insights. I highly recommend your book and your workshops. Where can people go to experience more of your work? (include your website, location for your book, and upcoming workshops).
Visit my website www.TheHappyMindBook.com for hundreds of articles, practical exercises, and more. My wife and I offer a one-day workshop entitled The Happy Mind Workshop. The whole idea of changing the foundations of all of your unhappy thoughts is simple in theory. But in practice, it can be challenging, since you have a lifetime of believing your old beliefs, and a lifetime of experience that validates and justifies them. Plus you live in a culture that unconsciously accepts those old beliefs without question, and reinforces them for you every day.
We offer a 2-hour mini-workshop entitled Happiness: The Gateway to Everything You Want For Yourself and Others. The next mini-workshop will be offered at the Unity Church in Albany on June 19th. Many people think that getting everything you want is the gateway to happiness. But actually it’s just the opposite. Happiness is the key to physical health, loving relationships, genuine compassion, realizing your deepest dreams, and experiencing prosperity and well-being in every area of your life. And it is your guide on your journey of self-awakening.
We offer an extensive three-day workshop, Living the Happy Mind: Undoing Your Inner Obstacles To Happiness. This workshop goes into depth about how to actually live the seven principles in your daily life. And it guides you to discover your own unique life purpose and the gifts you bring to this journey.
We also do book signings and presentations in the upstate New York area. For information on our workshops and other events, visit www.TheHappyMindBook.com. If you would like us to come to your area to offer a workshop or a talk, please contact us through the website or call us at 315-736-3324.
Best of luck, Bill. I hope that my readers will check out the wonderful things you have to offer. I highly recommend your work!
Blessings,
Mary
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Blessing for the Week- 12/11/10
Believe in yourself.
Trust your instincts
and follow your heart,
for in doing so you shall manifest
all your heart's desires.
The life you have
for so long aspired to create
will soon manifest.
~ Toni Carmine Salerno
Blessings,
Mary Riposo
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Blessing for the Week- 12/5/10
Negative thoughts and feelings
can sabotage your pursuit of happiness.
Allow the healing light of love
to flow through your heart.
Consciously infuse each negative thought
or feeling with love and light.
Feel both your heart and mind
aligning to your Soul's sacred purpose
and unleash your Divine potential
through the power of love.
~ Toni Carmine Salerno
Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Blessing for the Week- 11/28/10
You are good enough!
It is time to unlock all that you
have kept safely locked away in your heart.
Your true essence and potential
have been restricted by structure
and method for long enough.
There is no right or wrong way.
Just be you!
~ Toni Carmine Salerno
Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo, PhD
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Prayer for a Divine Life
Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo
www.IntegratedEnergyHealing.com
Prayer for a Divine Life
Beloved Divine Source, I Thank You right now that healing is flowing into me. I Thank You that You are restoring and refreshing me, that I am well and free. I Thank You, that You are giving me Your understanding Love. I firmly declare that I AM FREE and that I am becoming ALL that You created me to be.
I go into this day expecting Your favor and I Thank You that I am now annointed, equipped and empowered to do ALL that You have called me to do.
I Thank You because I know that:
I am accepted;
I am approved;
am appreciated;
I am anointed with Your favor and Love;
I am well able to do what You are asking me to do.
I Thank You, and I know that I am passing all spiritual tests, for:
I am strong;
I am healthy;
I am confident;
I am forgiven;
I am redeemed;
I am creative;
I am inspired;
I am enthusiastic;
I am well-motivated to take the action that leads to my success;
I am excellent;
I am focused;
I am disciplined;
I am full of integrity and fine character;
I am adored;
I am cherished;
I am joy-filled;
I am loved;
I am Light;
I AM DIVINE.
I Thank You, because I wake with certainty and I radiate your Divine Love to every person and situation I encounter today. I radiate your Divine Love to every cell and atom of My Being, down to the DNA. I radiate your Divine Love to all of my chakras and to all of my energy bodies, pouring brilliant, radiant Light into my emotional body, my mental body, my aura, my subtle body, my causal body, my radiant body and my luminous body.
I Thank You, my Beloved, that my best days are out in front of me. I know You have great things in store for me and You are giving me all that I need in order to accomplish all that You have asked me to do.
I call myself blessed, successful, prosperous, productive and fruitful. I am now experiencing Your goodness in a greater way than ever before and I offer all that I am and all that I do to You, as I step into a new level of my Divine destiny. A destiny of love, an expanded awareness of the Christ presence and power within the temple of my Heart.
And so, my Beloved, I let go;
I release every disappointment and regret;
I release every mistake and failure;
I release every resentment and feeling of anger;
I release every judgment and criticism;
I release every loss and rejection;
I release every sadness and sorrow;
I release to You my fears and doubts and I accept Your promise of Light and of a Divine Life, alive and passionate in Love.
Right here and right now, I step into that Divine Life renewed by the expansion of my Mind and I am ready for ALL the good things You have in store for me.
I believe it;
I declare it;
And I pray it in the Name, through the Power and by the Word of the True Omnipresent Christ Consciousness.
For it is so and So It Is.
This “Prayer For A Divine Life” is an adaptation of the prayers of Joel Osteen, with contributions by Elana Cara and Ashana.
