Kindness is not just for Christmas, it’s for life!

This year, more than ever, I have truly resonated with the spirit of Christmas. While the majority of people were stressing over what presents to buy and what to cook for Christmas dinner, I was basking in the warmth of the season’s more profound messages: goodwill, generosity, love, kindness and sharing.

Now that Christmas has ended, however, the magic has now subsided. It always amazes me that once the festivities are over, most people simply return to their grim realities, grumbling and lamenting that the fun has ended for another year. But why must it end? Why is goodwill only confined to one season?

I, for one, do not plan to abandon kindness. The world would be a much better place if we all showed just a little bit more kindness to our fellow humans, particularly to those who need it. It makes no sense to reserve this sort of behaviour solely for Christmas!

Just like Scrooge woke up on Christmas morning as a changed man, always promising to keep the spirit of Christmas in his heart, I challenge you to do the same! May 2015 be the year that we bring much-needed warmth and love to the world, making it the norm to be kind and generous.

End of Year Reflections

As we approach the end of the year, you might find yourself being reflective (or perhaps even regretful) of what happened in 2014. But it is important to remember that you cannot change the past, so there is no point dwelling on it! You must learn from your mistakes and move on. You can’t change what happened, but you can change how you feel about it.

As for your future, that is currently a blank slate. Who knows what 2015 will bring to your doorstep! It is fun to speculate about such things, but not so fun when when you worry about the future and fear the worst. So try not to get caught up in fictional problems that may never even happen! Just focus on what’s in front of you and enjoy LIVING.

It is the present that you should inhabit… the place where things are real and tangible. In the present, you have the power to do whatever you desire and that is a very special gift indeed. You can pursue hobbies, spend time with loves ones and take action to improve your life. There is a lot that you can do with the present moment, so use it wisely!

Of course, none of this is possible if you’re constantly thinking about the past or worrying about the future, so cast aside the mind’s projections and be fully present in each moment. Don’t live your life on autopilot and make sure that you shine brightly. Ignite the light, my friends!

I wish it could be Christmas every day!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I sincerely hope that all of you enjoy the festive season, regardless of what else is going on in your life. At this time of year, it can be quite easy to forget that some people don’t enjoy Christmas as much as the rest of us…

Some people are lonely and have nobody to share the holiday with. Some people find it painful to celebrate Christmas because their loved ones are absent. Other people are in great financial difficulty and feel inadequate because they cannot afford to buy presents.

You may identify with some of these issues or you may not. But what’s important to remember is that Christmas is about the power of love and goodwill, so spread the Christmas spirit wherever you can. There is more to Christmas than just buying presents and getting yourself into debt. Of course, you should treat your family and friends – it feels great to do so! But you should try to feel the love behind each present rather than just giving a gift through obligation. Christmas is about sharing yourself as well as material gifts.

I love this time of year because it brings out the best in a lot of people. But I think it would be wonderful if people adopted a giving and generous attitude all year around. Why must generosity be confined to one tiny segment of the year? Imagine what the world would be like if the spirit of Christmas was always present. As the song goes, I wish it could be Christmas every day!

Unfortunately though, Christmas will end. Once it does and you return to the daily grind, I implore you to keep the magic alive and be kind to your fellow humans. They deserve it and so do you!

Best wishes xx

My Personal Code

These days, there are so many self-help books in circulation that it can be difficult to know where to turn. There are also countless people who share their knowledge and wisdom, which can differ from person to person, so things can sometimes get a little confusing. What I would suggest, then, is that you adopt your own philosophy.

Everyone has a belief system – a “life code” – whether they know it or not. I think it can be very useful to have your own creed because it gives you something to live your life by. If you feel overwhelmed by all the philosophies out there, then just pay attention to the things that resonate with you. Below is my own personal code, which I jotted down yesterday:

– Be true to yourself, whether that conforms with society or not.
– Follow your heart and do what you love.
– Ignore the judgments of others. No matter what you do in your life, people will always find fault.
– Never give up on your dreams. Keep working towards them one step at a time and you will reach the finish line eventually.
– Time is not wasted if you enjoy how it is spent.
– You make your own purpose in life. Enrich your life with meaning.
– You are responsible for how you think and feel. You are the driver of your vehicle, not the passenger!
– Fear no more. Break free from the shackles of fear.

If you have any pearls of wisdom, then why don’t you make a list? You are very welcome to take some of my pointers if you’re struggling. But I promise you, you will be grateful for such a list when you’re having a bad day, as it will remind you of the wisdom you contain within yourself. Keeping a record of this wisdom will most certainly help you to ignite the light!

Same Struggle, Different Difference

When I saw this badge in a bookshop, I simply had to have it! It so aptly sums up the discrimination that goes on in this world every single day – so beautifully sheds light on the state of things. Whether you’re a victim of racism, sexism, homophobia or disability, you are all part of the same struggle! The dominant ideologies of our society facilitate prejudice against anything that deviates from “the norm!”

Basically, if you are not a straight, able-bodied white guy, then you are in trouble! Society has been designed to favour those in power (straight, able-bodied white men) and suppress everyone else. This needs to change – immediately. Some people seem to think that judging others based on the colour of their skin or sexual preference is acceptable behaviour, but it is not. Nor is judging someone for being in a wheel chair, having down’s syndrome or not being “man” enough.

Thankfully, there is an increasing amount of liberal people out there, but there is still a long way to go, especially for problems like gender stereotypes. People should be celebrated for their uniqueness, not judged for it! We should all strive to be ourselves, and yet the majority of us conform to a certain set of rules for fear of what others will think. This needs to stop right now!

Hopefully, this blog post has made you think about the state of things. Together, we can change our perceptions of each other. Together, we can change this world from the bottom up. The powers-that-be may try to bombard us with images of women being sexualised and black people being arrested for crimes etc, but if we make ourselves aware of what is going on, then they no longer hold sway over how we think.

Protesting: Standing Against the Status Quo

Today, I went to my first ever protest and it was quite the experience! As we marched through the city centre of Liverpool, we were tailed by police officers and weekend shoppers gawped at us. Quite frankly, we were a disruption to the status quo (interrupting a busy commercial weekend) and thus we were treated by the authorities as a public nuisance. It really made me think just how controlled and conditioned we are as a society.

I don’t want to get into the politics too much, but we were protesting on behalf of Palestine, encouraging members of the public to boycott businesses that sold products made in Israel, as these products essentially help to fund their oppression of Palestine. So we marched through the city centre to the various businesses affiliated with Israel and protested outside their doors, trying to spread awareness of the Israel/Palestine conflict. 

At first, we were only tailed by a pair of police liason officers, but they soon called for backup. It amazed me to see how the authorities responded to our peaceful protest, treating us like we were troublemakers and a public nuisance. The security men at each of the stores refused to let us indoors, presumably because we might deter customers from buying their products, but surely it is up to consumers to make an informed decision? 

Anyway, I don’t blame the authorities because they’re just pawns in all this, serving and preserving the capitalist agenda. In fact, one police officer somehow thought that we were doing a health and safety campaign!! Surely that’s not what his superiors told him?? 

What struck me about this protest is that freedom of speech really is dead. If you stand against the system in any way, then you’re branded as a crazy person or a troublemaker. But you shouldn’t let that deter you from fighting for what you believe in. If nobody stands up for what is right, then the powers-that-be will continue to trample on us. A protest must be ongoing and it must be relentless until something is done about the problem. For as long as the human spirit prevails, there will always be people who speak out against the bullshit. 

Taking a leap of faith

Quite often in life, we are required to take a leap of faith. This might involve quitting a job, moving house, starting a family or something else that throws you out of your comfort zone. The most scary part about taking a leap of faith is that there’s no guarantee of how things are going to pan out, but you shouldn’t let this stop you. Absolutely nothing in life is set in stone, so if you want to achieve something, then you should put aside your fear and follow your heart.

What do you feel guided to do? Do you feel like you’re on the right track with your life? What changes would you make if you were brave enough? These are questions that you should ask yourself on a regular basis, as there is always room for self-improvement and change. Sometimes, change will come knocking on your door and you will be forced to adapt. Other times, you will be the instigator of change, creating a new set of circumstances for yourself. 

Whenever I take a leap of faith, I always trust that I will be okay. No matter what happens, the universe will look after me and I’ll be alright. If you desire something in your life, then don’t let fear hold you back. We are blessed with only so many days on this good earth, so do not waste them in regret of what could have been. Expand your boundaries and be the person that you know you can be! 

Sex as a spiritual gateway

There is great power to be found in sexual activity, if only one is aware of the divine connection that it creates. But because we live in an image-obsessed world, it can be difficult to look beyond someone’s appearance and forge a deeper connection. As a result, many people have sexual experiences that are unfulfilling and soulless.

In modern society, sex is something that is rarely talked about openly. In fact, people usually get very embarrassed about it (especially when talking to family members) and tend to describe it with euphemisms, if at all. There are others, however, who go to the opposite extreme and describe sexual activities very bluntly, almost taking pleasure from making people cringe.

The bottom line is this: we have been conditioned to think that sex is something dirty, when it is actually the most natural and sacred thing in the world! Whether you are married, promiscuous or prefer masturbation, there’s power to be found in sex. Sex is a spiritual gateway to the divine… whenever you connect with another person (or people) on a deeper level, it can energise and invigorate you.

Of course, you can still enjoy sex without a deep connection, but the thrill that you get from it usually isn’t as long-lasting and you usually feel quite drained afterwards. So start being aware of your connection with other people, even if you only have one-night stands… surely anyone who sleeps with you deserves your basic appreciation?

In the past, sex has been demonised by religion and branded as something that is just done for procreation. But more and more people are using sex for enjoyment, which is absolutely fantastic! However, just be wary of how the media can distort our perceptions of beauty… in particular, pornography can create very unrealistic expectations for our sexual endeavours!

For those of you who are interested, there is the potential to delve deeper. All you have to do is be aware of the divine connection and appreciate your partner(s) on a deeper level. With any luck, this should improve your sex life.

Is there such a thing as destiny?

Sometimes in life, it feels as though you have been put on a certain path. You are guided to do certain things, as though it was always your purpose to do so. But can this be attributed to destiny or are they simply circumstances of your own making?

This is an age-old debate and there is no clear-cut answer. While I believe that some aspects of our lives are decided before we are born (i.e who our parents are going to be), other things are left to chance. With each new life, our souls are on a journey of self-discovery, so there will be certain lessons to be learned and certain obstacles to be overcome. Say, for example, if you were a chauvinist in your previous life then you might have decided to reincarnate as a woman in this life to be on the receiving end of sexual abuse, thus it would be your destiny (and karmic justice) to experience the same abuse that you once gave to other people.

Other people might argue that destiny is wishful thinking. It is very possible that symptoms of destiny could be attributed to the law of attraction, which attracts things into your life that you focus your attention on. Hence, the more you think about something – whether good or bad – it usually comes into your life and is labelled as destiny.

While we are left with the free will to make our own choices, it does seem that we are destined to do certain things. Throughout our lives, we receive inner guidance and wisdom, which informs us what path to take. If we choose to listen to this guidance, then arguably we are choosing to accept our true purpose and destiny.

The Power of Crystals

Before I received my Reiki attunements, I was quite sceptical of things like crystals. But since getting attuned, I’ve been more open-minded and willing to try out more things, even if they require a leap of faith.

For those who didn’t know, there’s a vast array of different crystals, each with their own set of spiritual properties and attributes. Some help you to become more spiritually connected, while others balance your emotions and cleanse spiritual impurities. There are literally hundreds of different crystals available!

When I first tried crystals, I was still quite apprehensive about them. But to my great surprise, they do seem to bear some power! At first, I wondered whether it was just wishful thinking or the placebo effect making me think that these little crystals were taking effect, but I had no expectations whatsoever – in fact, my mind was looking for a way to disprove their power!

I now use crystals on a regular basis, alongside meditation and Reiki. Whenever I need to boost my creativity, I rest a piece of carnelian on my sacral chakra. Whenever I watch TV or go on my laptop, I use fluorite to shield me from the harmful electromagnetic rays, which ultimately prevents headaches and stops my eyes from getting tired. Whenever I get a headache, I use either lapis or snowflake obsidian. Whenever I… oh, you get the idea 😛

Everyone is drawn to different crystals at different times. They are tools to aid and boost our spirituality and the planet’s way of helping us on our spiritual journeys. Not everyone likes them and not everyone believes in their power, but there are many who receive great benefit from these wonderful minerals.