Tag Archives: emotions

What does this mean? Being spirit.

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YOU are spirit. If you have a leaning towards spiritual exploration, and/or have settled onto your spiritual path, you may have your own personal concepts of the meaning of “spirit.”

I often hear people say, “my spirit.” Which, to me, indicates they believe that they are their physical body, and have a spirit vs. being a spirit, and having a body. I believe that we ARE all spirits, and we have bodies. We are spirits manifesting in physical bodies. Whether human, dog, cat, horse, bird, fish, or bear, we are all spirits, with bodies.

There has been much discussion, debate, and studies conducted to prove that animals experience emotion. All bodies have and experience emotions. Emotions are of the body. So, yes. Animals definitely experience, and have a wide range of, emotions. Just like people do. But animals are more than just their bodies, just like people are. We are again, all spirit with bodies. It is because we have bodies that we can experience emotions, and other aspects of the physical realm.

Without the use of a body a spirit can not experience the physical world, including emotions. Whether animal or human. Without the ability to manifest through a body, we, as spirit, are in, and can only experience the spiritual realm. Emotions, the intellect, and other experiences, such as pain are only part of the physical experience. To experience them we need a body. And for a body to experience life, to be alive, it needs a spirit, a spiritual being to manifest its energy through it. We need each other, spirit, and body, to experience the physical world.

Obviously, we know the scientific meaning of life, and the aspects of the body that need to be healthy for the body to be alive. But it is the spirit, the soul, the spiritual being and whether its energy is energizing the body that determines whether it is alive or not, and the state of vitality of the body.

As spirit we have the ability to move our energy in and out of our body. The body is always in the present moment. As spirit, we can be in the present, the past, or the future. We can use our bodies to help us at spirit to manifest more consciously into the present. Focusing on our body’s rhythms and experiences can automatically help draw our attention as spirit more into the present. Some meditation practices encourage focusing on breathing, which is a fabulous start! When one focuses their attention on their breath flowing in and out of their lungs it brings their awareness more to their body, and thus more to the present moment. Remember, your body is always in the present. As I mentioned, you as spirit, can be anywhere, at will. The present, the past, the future. Even another city, state, or country. Wherever your attention is, that’s where you are as spirit.

It can be fun to just notice. Allow yourself to be aware. Check in when you think of it. Where is your attention? Is it on the task or activity you are currently doing? It might be! Are you thinking about other things on your “to do” list? Perhaps you’re enjoying thoughts of an upcoming event that you’re looking forward to. Or maybe a memory was triggered and you’re dwelling on something from the past. There’s no right or wrong, or good or bad about it. Each is just a different experience.

However, the more you are in the present, the more in control of yourself, your body, your energy, and your actions you will be. In addition to focusing on your breathing, you can be aware of your heartbeat, your pulse. Notice the weight and mass of your body, your clothes on your skin, the temperature of the room. Use the senses of your body to help draw your attention as spirit more to it, and to the present moment. Tune into any sounds, smells, and tastes in your mouth. If you close your eyes, as in meditation, it can help lessen distractions. We take in so much information with our eyes, that when we close them, it helps us to focus more on ourselves, and our bodies. However, if you are sighted and your eyes are open, you can use your sense of sight, and what you see, to further draw your attention into the present. We often learn to move our attention out into whatever we are looking at, so this is something to be aware of. Practice staying with your body, as you look at external sights.

These techniques are simple and can be done with your eyes closed or opened, as mentioned. But there is one other technique that is just as simple, but in my opinion, is the most important. It’s called grounding. You may have heard the term grounding before, but it may be a different style than what I am sharing about.

While you can be grounded anytime and anywhere and doing any activity, if you are new to grounding, it can help you to sit comfortably in a straight back chair, with your eyes closed. You’ll want to have your feet separated and flat on the floor, and your hands separated and resting in your lap. Take some nice, slow deep breaths and relax your body. Be aware of the area near the base of your spine. This is your first chakra. Allow yourself to create, imagine, visualize a flow of energy flowing from the area near the base of your spine all the way down to the center of the earth. Let it flow straight down with no effort. This is your grounding cord. Securely attach it to both ends, the center of the earth and your first chakra. Take a deep breath and experience being grounded. How does your body respond to being grounded? Get a word or words to describe what it’s like to be grounded right now. Does it feel familiar, or new? Continue to allow your grounding to flow. Being grounded can help to lessen stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as help you be less scattered and more in control of your life.

You can also use your grounding to release energy. Physicists have proven that everything is energy. Everything. Everything physical and everything related to the spiritual realm. There are just different kinds of energy. Some we can physically see, and some we can’t. There are energies that are beneficial and those that can be disturbing and disruptive. We can release any energy we do not want. When we release unwanted energy, we make more room for the energy that we want. Out with the old and unwanted energies, and in with the new and desired energies.

Practice releasing energy now. Be aware of your grounding flowing from your first chakra to the center of the earth. Get the concept of releasing any unwanted energy down your grounding. Just let it go. With no effort. Just allow, and let it flow. This process does not harm the planet in any way. Once it gets to the center of the earth, the energy is neutralized to be reused again.

Be aware of an area of your body that you carry a lot of tension. That is stored energy. Allow that energy to flow down your grounding. Let it go. Relax your body by releasing energy. How does your body respond as you release energy from it? You can release any energy that you want. Releasing energy also strengthens your grounding. If you ever feel like you need more grounding, simply send more energy down it.

If you are ever feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable in any way, remember your ability to ground. Simply grounding helps to calm your body’s nervous system. Then you have the added benefit of releasing any energy that is making you uncomfortable. You may tune into something specific, but you don’t have to. There have been times I didn’t know exactly what energy I was dealing with, but knew I needed to let it go. So, I did, and my body felt better.

Grounding is a spiritual technique, as is releasing energy. You create your grounding as spirit. You release energy as spirit. When you create as spirit it takes no effort. If you ever find yourself trying hard to ground, or release energy, that’s your body trying to get involved. Bodies use effort. Spirits do now. Remember, everything is energy. Including effort. So, you can release any interfering effort energy down your grounding.

Using spiritual techniques, such as grounding and releasing energy, will help you get to know yourself as spirit. The soul, the spiritual being that you are. I’ll end this blog post, just as I began it. YOU are spirit. Enjoy your unique, and uniquely beautiful spiritual journey, here on earth.

 

Is My Animal Friend Happy?

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Even cute little guinea pigs can experience stress, anxiety and a full range of emotions. Get to know your animal friends and get to know yourself. By changing how you feel, you impact all around you, including your pets.

One of the questions I often get asked during an animal communication and psychic reading session is whether or not a pet is happy. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, horses and other animals in our lives are impacted by us and how we are feeling. Are we happy, stressed, sad, angry, excited, enthusiastic, worried or anxious? How do our animal friends mirror these emotions and experiences? In all different ways!

While emotional responses can be exhibited in behavioral issues or changes they can sometimes be less obvious. Has your dog started itching, biting or gnawing himself frequently? If you rule out some of the obvious culprits, such as fleas or allergies, what could it be? It could be an outlet for stress. Why is he stressed? It can be beneficial to evaluate your stress level. Is there something that happened recently or that is currently going on that you find stressful? Everything is energy and energy can be transferred from one to the other; whether human or animal.

Other known signs of stress in animals include birds plucking out their feathers, cats overgrooming themselves, animals not wanting to eat and hiding. These behaviors can also be sign of illness, so they shouldn’t be ignored.

If there is conflict going on in your household or changes that have created a stressful environment, your pets will be effected. However some may show outward signs more obviously than others. Just like all people are different, so are all animals. Some are more go with the flow, letting things roll of their backs. Others may have a lot going on under a facade of courage, stoicism and “I’m fine!”

This dog has a treat. His panting could be a sign of stress that he feels trying to guard his tasty treasure.

Some signs of stress may seem completely natural. That is because in some situations they are natural, but they can communicate much more. There are a number of behaviors that are termed “calming signals” in dogs that can be signs of stress. Lip licks, panting, yawning, ignoring a situation by sniffing the ground or looking away are just some examples. They can be an attempt to calm a situation or another dog, though they can be used when relating to people too. For example, if it isn’t hot out and your dog doesn’t have a reason to be panting, it could be a sign of stress.

It can be helpful to not only pay attention to signs of stress in our animal friends, but to also be aware of how you are feeling yourself. If you are stressed, upset or unhappy about something in your life perhaps it needs some attention. It may be a situation that can be changed through communication with someone or perhaps it simply needs to be approached with a new perspective. Sometimes the way to create beneficial change is to completely leave a situation. Each scenario is unique, so it can be helpful to reflect on it, as such.

In addition to animal communication, energy healing and reading I teach meditation techniques that can help to reduce stress, as well as be more aware of how you are feeling. The style of meditation that I practice and share with others provides tools to help release energy you no longer want to make more room for what you want in the present. This process helps you to heal and create change in any aspect of your life. This includes your relationships with your pets.

To learn more, feel free to contact me. I will be restarting my Meditation Club soon. Everyone in the club receives a new recorded, guided meditation each month. Meditation literally saved my life. More than once and it still helps me in my life. Meditation has provided me with tools in many situations, including loss of loved ones, making changes and depression. If you are looking for support, meditation is just a deep breath away!

Thanks for reading!

360-601-4358

I Love Seattle!

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Anyone that knows me knows how much I love Seattle! Not just Seattle, but Western Washington in general. Although an abundant list of important learning and lessons have come my way while living in San Diego, I often missed certain things about Washington. Number one being the lush greenery a.k.a. TREES!

washington with river and falls

The beauty of Washington State includes, lush green trees and water galore!

In addition to the green beauty, there are rivers, waterfalls, creeks, snow capped mountains, the blue waters of Puget Sound, wildlife and just all around loveliness!

I have had the joyous privilege of seeing some of the most beautiful landscapes the earth has to offer. Many in person. Others in photographs and videos. However, I definitely haven’t seen them all! There are so many breathtaking sights in nature and there is nothing like taking them in up close and personal.

I love Mother Earth! The form of meditation that I practice and teach helps me and others to be more in touch with the Earth. This includes the easy to use, but powerful, meditative visualization technique of grounding.

Snow capped mountains add to the beautiful green scenery.

Snowy mountains add to the beautiful green scenery.

Grounding is the foundation of all that I do. Similar to how roots are the foundation of trees. Roots ground the tree, giving it stability and strength. It is the roots that allow trees to live. Roots provide trees with the capacity to absorb water through their entire growing body. Roots help trees and other plants to flourish. Grounding can help you and your body in the same way!

When in doubt, literally and figuratively, I ground! The other day, I was having a tough time. I was upset and having a hard time talking myself out of it. Ever have one of those moments?! 😉 Anyway, I sat down to meditate. I grounded and then began to use additional techniques including, centering, releasing energy, running energy and more! I felt a little better, but still was feeling overwhelmed and extremely emotional. It wasn’t until I slowed down enough to just focus on my grounding that I began to feel better. In fact, I felt instantly better with this sole focus.

Mount Ranier is a beautiful sight indeed!

Mount Ranier is a beautiful sight indeed!

We have such a busy world and have become so used to doing more, more and then still more! Our plates are beyond full and our capacity for multitasking is truly amazing. We are capable of doing so much that it is easy to get swept up in the complexity of doing. As I sat there meditating and adding technique upon technique upon technique, I was trying to do more to solve my problems. As our society gains technological advancements, the concept that more is better seems confirmed. So instead of taking the time to gently and calmly experience each individual, beneficial technique I hurriedly tried to feel better by making my simple meditation complex. I wanted to get out of where I was and tried digging myself out by piling more on!

One of the most beautiful skylines in the world. In my opinion. ;-)

One of the most beautiful skylines in the world, in my opinion. 😉

Slowing down to ground and focus exclusively on my grounding was the secret. How often are we trying to be more productive, successful and achieve more? By doing and doing and doing, we certainly can accomplish. However, when we take the time to slow down instead of using our time to speed up and spread ourselves out into multiple places, we actually can complete more. We can do so with less stress and frantic feelings and more peace and a sense of fulfillment. And even joy! We can have fun while we do! Doing can be fun and I have found that doing less often is more effective and doing “nothing” is sometimes essential.

If you would like to learn more about grounding and how it can assist you and your body, call me at 619-797-0705 or email me at sindi@apetpsychic.com. Enjoy!

Birth and Death

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waves at sunset

Life is full of change, similar to the changes that occur each time a new set of waves flow on and off the sandy shore.

Today my friend’s father died at 5:45 AM. Today also happens to be my birthday. This is the day I was born, oh so many years ago. My friend and I will always remember the date, February 26, but for different reasons.

Birth and death are both transitional experiences. With birth, the soul transitions into the body and the earth plane. In death, the soul permanently leaves its particular body and transitions back into the spiritual realm.

dog with chin on stuffed animal

While we can look at physical, scientific and medical reasons why a body lives or dies, it is actually the soul that determines this difference. It is the soul and its energetic presence that gives the body life. It is the departure of this same being that creates the experience of death.

Adjusting to a new life, whether our own or an addition to our own, as with the birth of a child, takes time. Processing the occurance of death also takes time. It is important to allow our body the time to process, reflect and grieve. There are a number of emotions one might experience related to a death; grief, sadness, depression, anger, guilt.

Bodies feel. They experience pain, sadness, grief, as well as lighter emotions, such as joy.

Bodies feel. They experience pain, sadness, grief, as well as lighter emotions, such as joy.

Our reaction to each death experience may have similarities, but also differences. Depending on our relationship with the soul that has passed, the intensity of our emotional response may differ. If you are a close relative, friend or caregiver, for example. These particular roles may evoke different feelings than those of a casual acquaintance, Facebook friend or stranger. If you are both a family member and the caregiver, there will be a unique intensity all its own.

Caring for a loved one at the end of their life can be emotional, exhausting and overwhelming. Watching someone die or approach death can be stressful and painful, especially if suffering is involved. Because of these intense feelings their may be a sense of relief after they pass. This may be followed by guilt, due to judgment.

If we can allow our body its complete range of emotions without judgment, we can more easily move through the grieving process. Or any experience, for that matter. When we judge, fight, resist or deny our emotions, we can get stuck. This can interfere with us reaching a place of acceptance. It can take us longer to reach a place of peace with a death.

Saying goodbye to Ginger was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Dealing with death can be a challenge for those left living.

Saying goodbye to beautiful, loving Ginger was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Dealing with death can be a challenge for those left living. But we can do it! Allow the time and space for your healing. Be gentle and kind to yourself.

Because of my personal experiences with death and the benefit others can be to us during a time of loss, I offer help in this area. I work with both animals and people providing one on one and group grief counseling, energy healing, psychic reading and telepathic communication with the soul that has passed. Individual and group pet loss support and assistance with end of life decisions may also include guided meditation and other services.

If you or someone you know are struggling with loss, grief, pain, depression, stress, fear or anxiety related to death or any aspect of life’s many experiences, I can help! Through energy healing, psychic reading, talking and meditating, you can regain a more neutral, non-judgmental perspective of yourself, your emotions and others.

I can be reached at 619-797-0905. Peace.

11.13.2012 – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

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Sometimes, in order to avoid uncomfortable emotions we may want to avoid acknowledging the aging process. Whether it is the changes in our own body or illness, pain and challenges in our loved ones; both human and animal.

Death is inevitable for the body. Souls, however live on. I personally believe in reincarnation.

Over the weekend I saw one of the most amazing stage presentations I have ever experienced. The World Premier of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. My sense is that it is most certainly Broadway bound and it will win awards. Yoshimi is phenomenal! The show demonstrates collaborative creativity at its highest level featuring stellar acting, directing, costuming and staging. It is truly an artistic, visual, technical, musical masterpiece featuring songs by The Flaming Lips. One of the lyrics that moved me, was from the song, Do You Realize??

I am including a link below that includes The Flaming Lips song lyrics for Do You Realize?? in their entirety.

LINK TO THE FLAMING LIPS SONG LYRICS, “DO YOU REALIZE??”

Just as flowers are born, grow, bloom and later wither and die, so does the body.

Basically the song’s lyrics highlight the obvious. That which us humans, so often want to ignore and deny. The fact that all of us, every single person and animal, one day will die.

When discussing or writing about this topic, I find myself even wanting to avoid using the word die or death or dying. Instead I often choose less charged phrases, such as passing, passing on, passed on, lost or having to say goodbye to.

I believe it is important to focus in the present. To enjoy our life and live it to its fullest while fulfilling our individual, unique purpose to the best of our ability. I also believe that we are souls. Immortal spirits that even when our bodies cease, we, the soul lives on. However, as long as we are physically present here on earth we have bodies. Bodies that feel and experience different temperatures, pain, grief, sadness and anger, as well as pleasure, joy and happiness.

Bodies feel. They just do.

When an animal or human that we care about dies, we that are left here on the physical plane grieve. We are sad. We miss our friend. What I have learned is that we each grieve differently. Some show no physical signs of emotion, despair or change, while others can hardly function.

I know some people whose beloved pet has died and they have yet to ever get a new companion animal over 10 years later. I also know others who have gotten another pet just days after saying goodbye to the one they lost.

Everyone is different in how they respond to death and dying. Your concepts about spirit and body and life and death may be the same, similar or completely different than mine. Although I believe the soul lives on, in regards to our experience here on earth, one thing is for sure. It may make your body sad to think this thought, but it is true. Just as The Flaming Lips sing so bluntly, everyone you know someday will die.

I encourage you to spend time with those important to you. Cherish those you love and love those you cherish. If you have lost a loved one and would like to check in and have some soul to soul communication contact me at 619-797-0705 or sindi@apetpsychic.com. Or perhaps you are struggling with loss and you are having a difficult time letting go and moving forward. I offer energy healing, psychic reading and also teach meditative, self-healing visualization techniques to assist with this process. Although you can not physically turn back the hands of time, go backwards and actually change your past, you do have the power to heal yourself and change how you feel about your past. I provide meditation, healing, reading and communication services to anybody, anywhere on the planet. If you or a human or animal you love are facing a health challenge or other potential stressful situation, I can help with that too. I don’t replace medical doctors or veterinarians. Instead, I see myself as an alternative healing option working alongside the medical profession. Because I am not a member of the medical field, I can not diagnose diseases or illness. I suggest ruling out and/or discovering any medical conditions before pursuing an alternative energy healing, reading or similar modality.