Preparing for 2019!

Preparing for 2019!

​We have just a short amount of time before 2018 wraps up! This year has been interesting, challenging, transitional and full of deep realizations and understandings. We had a year full of very interesting astrological planetary movements and cycles that were affecting us in ways seen and unseen.  These cycles often presented obstacles or difficult situations to sift through, with good intentions.  We often hear or see people talking about ‘lightwork’ and staying positive through these times. The very honest and raw truth is that the real transformation happens during the difficult times, when we are sometimes at our lowest and have been given the most challenging obstacles. Is it good to find the positive in hard situations? Absolutely. Are you expected to run around with a smile on your face blowing rainbow kisses and throwing sparkly confetti wherever you go?  Nope.  Pasting a big glittery sticker over top of a difficult situation does not make it go away.  'Handing it over' to someone or something else and expecting it to just disappear will not make it go away.  Even praying for the pain to be taken away will not fully heal you without knowing why the pain is there.  If you do not dig deep into that pile of emotions and fully understand it, there is no meditation/prayer that will just *poof* it away.  That is simply a way of bypassing a situation.  Dig deep, understand it, you may not know the reasons for it, but you can understand your emotions and reactions around it.  Knowing that you will come out of whatever you are going through with a better understanding of life and humanity may not feel warm and fuzzy while you are experiencing something difficult, but when you look back on it, you will find the value in it.  

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How do we prepare for 2019 if we still are holding on to 'stuff' from this year?  Great question.  We're going to talk about some things you can do on your own to help you release what is no longer needed, what is no longer serving you and possibly what could be keeping you from moving forward next year.    

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First, do a scan over the last year and see what sticks out that feels 'unfinished' or still weighs heavy on you.  This is not about the things that were light and happy.  Those events and happenings aren't meant to be released right now.  We're talking about the difficult and challenging issues that you maybe didn't get a chance to process, or possibly just stuffed down or glanced over so that you could move forward this past year.  However, these are the things that will come back up over and over again if they aren't released or dealt with.  Write these down.  Write it down on a piece of paper you can get rid of.  

The next step in the process is to identify what emotions are attached to those events or happenings.  This is where it gets a little more down and dirty.  Associate emotions with each thing that is coming up.  Write down the emotions next to the event/person/situation/thought-get as specific as you can.  Where are you feeling each emotion in your body?  If you don't know how to answer that question, that's okay.  This step won't keep you from doing this exercise.  If you want to try to tune-in to your body a little deeper to identify whether you can answer that question, try to meditate, take a bath, do yoga or tai-chi, walk in nature or do some breathwork before attempting that step.  Then, go back and ask yourself the question of where you are feeling the emotion-chances are there is going to be a specific area of the body that will tense up and give you the answer.  Ask yourself what you need to know about these emotions.  Let the words flow out onto the paper.  Do not block anything that is coming up, write it down.  These are the writings where those 'ah-ha' moments will begin to present themselves.  You'll start to make the connections between the events, the emotions and the underlying information about the emotions that needs to be released.    

Once you have finished your scan over the last year, written down what is still sticking around that needs addressed, figured out what emotions you associate with these events and tried to tune-in to the areas of the body  you are feeling the emotions-you are going to get rid of the piece of paper you have written the info on.  If you have a safe place to burn the paper in, please do that.  Other options would be to shred, cut, rip up, throw away or dispose of it in another safe way.  The most important part of this whole exercise is for you to be able to completely open up honestly with yourself about what you are holding on to from this past year, and then get rid of it.  It may take a little while for you to get down to the nitty gritty.  Oftentimes we find that when we glance over or stuff down our feelings and reactions to situations as we go through them, it takes a little time to bring it to the surface when it's time to address it.  While you are disposing of the paper, breathe deeply in and out and see yourself releasing the energy contained on the paper completely on your out-breath.  Each out-breath is a release of energy.  Each in-breath is bringing in clear, fresh energy to fill the space that the stagnant energy previously took root in. 

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If you have been through a traumatic event, or are dealing with mental health issues and need help, please ask for help.  Contact your family doctor for referrals to professional therapists or, if that is not an option for you, the website Talk Space is a great option.  Please reach out for help-there are so many good people out in the world waiting to help.  Here is a list of resources available:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line  Text 'home' to: 741741
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline 1-800-662-4357
National Alliance on Mental Health Illness Helpline  1-800-950-6264

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Here are some other suggestions for preparing for 2019 with a clearer mindset and lighter energy:

1. Sage your entire body and household.  Yes, sage your body.  If you cannot actually burn sage/cedar/incense/resin or any of the like, you can buy or make a spray that will effectively do the same thing.  There will be additional info on this in the newsletter coming out soon!  If you haven't already subscribed, now would be a good time to do so.    
2. Get rid of clutter.  Throw things out, donate, purge or give away.  Whatever you have lying around your house and spaces that is no longer needed or serving you-get rid of it.  Clear out that heavy energy by clearing out your space.  
3. Forgive.  Ahhh.  Just say the words "I forgive you."  You may be talking to yourself, or you may be directing this at someone else.  Start 2019 by clearing the slate by forgiving.  Forgiveness is a beautiful gift that comes from the heart and heals.  You can send forgiveness to someone energetically, but speaking it to them directly is even more healing.
4. Dance.  Yes-dance.  Turn some rocking music on and move your body!  Let all of the energy that has become stagnant over this year flow out through the creative movement of dance.  Allow the Sacral Chakra to activate and allow the energy to flow through.
5. Paint/Draw/Doodle.  Even if you aren't a creative sort, doodling is very therapeutic.  Anyone can pick up a paint brush and stick it in a paint and put the paint to paper or canvas.  It doesn't matter what it looks like.  The flow of energy that comes from activating that side of your brain is priceless.  Try it!
6. Journal.  You'll hear me say it again and again.  Writing things down is one of the best ways to clear things out-energetically.  Once you acknowledge and identify through the act of writing, sometimes that is all you need to do to release the energy of a situation or event.  
7. Gather.  Find a time to gather with your Sacred Circle of friends.  Spend that time helping one another talk through whatever issues you need help with.  Literally form a circle and allow each person to talk and share whatever it is they need to share and get advice on.  It is such a supportive and nurturing thing to do for one another. 
8. Get a massage, schedule a myofascial release session, deep tissue work, etc.  Have someone else work on your body to help release the energy that could be stuck deep down in the tissues.  Even after releasing trapped or hidden energy, sometimes the body needs a session of physical work to get it all moved out.

As I said earlier in the post, it's in the times that are difficult that real transformation happens.  It's not always easy or pretty, but it is necessary and needed.  If you have worked through some exercises and are still struggling with some things that came up for you this year, please contact me.  Emotion Release, Reiki and Energy Coaching sessions all work whether you are in a room next to me, or thousands of miles away-that's the beauty of this work.  If I am not the practitioner for you, I can certainly direct you to someone that can help.  My goal is to get you to where you need to be, whether that is working with me or with someone else.  This work is about healing the world, and that starts with each individual person.  We are all in this together.  My wish for you is that 2019 brings much abundance, prosperity, love and enlightenment to you!    

Love and Light~
Mandi