Category: Blog

Hey there!

If you are reading this, I know you need to hear this message. Thank you for being here.

I want to chat with you a little about visualization and WHY it is so important.

There are some elements to this post that are experiential, meaning you may want to actually partake in what I am writing. For these parts, you will need:

-an open mind

-a journal

-a writing utensil

-peace and quiet, if you need it

As a child, I loved to daydream. I would sit in the backseat of the car, or on the beach, or in my classroom, and I would get lost in a world inside my head. I think this is partially why visualization as a meditation and manifestation practice is so attractive to and fun for me!

I will explain briefly what my definition of visualization is. The way I have used visualization over the past several months is to lead clients through a journey from alignment, to connection, and ending with empowerment. I will explain what I mean by each of these terms.

Visualization is the act of picturing yourself living your ideal circumstances. You can either be witnessing it from outside of your body, like watching a movie, or you could see it from your two eyes as if it were happening to you. Visualization is a meditation practice that takes roughly 20-30 minutes. I enjoy incorporating a journaling session after my visualization guidance, to really get clear on what happened and what I can do NOW to take steps toward that ideal.

Visualization takes alignment. You must align your inner, deepest self with that which you would like to visualize and eventually manifest. To do this, it is necessary to get really clear about what you want out of your life. Who do you see yourself being? What do you see yourself doing? When you look within your heart, instead of into your mind, you will be closer to the answer. Another really cool way to get into alignment is to think back to when you were a kid. Did you used to daydream at all? If you had any fantasies about what you wanted to be when you grew up, that may bring you closer still to alignment. Ask yourself what you envisioned yourself doing as an adult. What about that role or those circumstances were attractive to you? Try to list out any attributes of what you imagined as a kid. Compare the attributes to your life now. See what matches, and what doesn’t.

Once I lead clients through alignment, I move on to connection. It is important for all beings to know that we are connected. Each and every one of us. Whether we are in the US, Asia, Africa or Antarctica, our existence impacts all other life. When you can get an understanding of this, visualization becomes really expansive. For some, this is kind of depressing or overwhelming. I understand that! However, that does not make it less true. When we are ready to meet ourselves deeply, we can meet other people deeply. We have to start within, to move out. If you want to make an impact in the world, it’s important to start with yourself first. You are worthy of this. You are loved, you are held, you are cared for.

Finally, we move onto empowerment. This takes the bulk of my guided visualization. Moving from alignment, to connection, we learn about what really turns us on and makes us excited about life. We get t explore what we really want to do, here, now, with this life of ours. Connection shows us that we are worthy of achieving whatever it is that we want, and that ALL other people are worthy. Our mental and physical health means mental and physical health for all. A high tide raises all ships. When we get to empowerment, we take all the power we accumulated and apply it to ourselves. In empowerment, we come face to face, or fully embody, our highest self, who has achieved a goal we want to achieve at some point in the future. We have a full conversation with this version of ourselves. We get to ask them questions. We get to feel the feelings they feel. In every ounce of our being. We make room for all that comes along with this power. Sometimes, it is exhilarating. Sometimes, it is terrifying. Sometimes, it is disappointing. All of these feelings are ok. All of them are valid.

The secret to visualization is: doing it often. Sending your vision and your dreams and your goals as much positive energy as you can muster. Practice visualizing your future self every day. Sit and try to embody this version of yourself. Try to imagine the circumstances you want to manifest. When you do this, you will receive divine downloads as to what to do next. You MUST get up and go do that thing, to keep getting aligned messages. Your action is 100% required for your life to work.

So get to it! Start visualizing and let me know how it’s going.

You can also join me at a future visualization session.

September 8, 6:30-7:30 pm

September 11, 8-9 pm

Hey friends!

I want to share a trait that I think is lacking in our instant gratification society, but is THE answer to living a happy life. That trait is patience.

I recently finished a children’s book illustration class. During it, we learned about different techniques to use when creating art, what types of themes to consider, ways to shape the book by focusing on character design, and other aspects of children’s book illustration.

The reason I took this class is that I have written a children’s book, and wanted to keep this dream of getting the book published alive and well in my mind. However, while I love painting and drawing, I don’t think I have an entire book’s worth of illustrations in me. I knew from the syllabus that the teacher would go over the industry (getting an agent, publishing houses and details, etc) with us during the final week of the class. This is the information I was craving and waiting for.

Last week, the second to last week of the class, the teacher came around and checked in with everyone. During our check in, I told him that I had decided that I don’t want to illustrate the book. He said, “So you’ve pretty much been waiting this whole time for the last week, huh?” While I did enjoy drawing and dreaming about my book, I told him that, yes, I was waiting for the last week. He said “You’re very patient!” That struck me.

A lot of people might think that I had wasted a lot of time by being in the class, learning about art techniques I would not be using. But, I saw being in this class as an opportunity to continue to think about, dream about and talk about my book becoming real. I knew that the teacher is an expert, and I wanted to hear about his perspective and experience in the book publishing industry. Some of the information is Google-able, but a lot of what I want to know is real life people and what they have been through.

I have been reflecting on patience a lot lately. If you want something in life, it is important to put in the work, do your research, spend time dedicated to what you are aiming for, and don’t expect it to manifest instantly. Seeds get planted, take root, need nurturing, and start growing long before they produce flowers, fruit or vegetables. The result you want is in the consistency you put into it. Patience is a very important aspect of reaping rewards.

Hey everyone!

I was inspired to share my favorite manifestation thus far. While it was not intentional, it felt perfectly aligned with who I am, and who I want to show up as in the world.

Last Friday morning, May 3rd, I was running late. This tends to happen in my life, and is something I am actively attempting to rectify. This particular morning, the first Friday of May, was Mindful Mornings. This event is really interesting, because it brings folks together between 8-9:15 am every first Friday of the month to shine light on a particular topic and a person who embodies this topic in the community. Food is served, conversation and connection are encouraged, and time is dedicated to a wonderful cause.

Before I left my house, a thought crossed my mind. “One day, I’d really like to be involved in Mindful Mornings.” and I visualized a vague picture of myself on the stage in front of people, probably sharing something that is important to me. These were the only details. I kind of acknowledged the thought, had a feeling of excitement about it, and then allowed it to pass. I grabbed my car keys and purse and left for the event.

As I arrived, I knew I was about 10 minutes late. I was kind of bummed about this, as, like I mentioned, I want to release the drama of being late. As I was signing in, I noticed Becky (the founder of Mindful Mornings), talk to people at the registration table, including Sydney, who I knew through the Rebelle community. I saw Sydney kind of pointing at me and I was like “OMG why is she pointing at me, what did I do?”. As it turns out, Becky was asking if they knew anyone at the event who could lead the group in a 3-5 minute meditation before the program, and Sydney was pointing at me. Becky turned to me and asked if I would be willing and able to do this.

I immediately felt some things happen in my body: my heart was pounding, my face and neck started to feel warm, I started sweating a little bit and I had butterflies in my stomach- I was scared! I knew from mindfulness and meditation practice that these were signs that I was scared in that good way- that I was being pushed outside my comfort zone in a way that would help me grow and stretch into who I want to show up as.

“Yes” was my answer to Becky. “Yes” was my answer to all the people in the room. And, most importantly, “Yes!” was my answer to myself. I knew that in that moment, my intuition was speaking to me. The Universe was speaking to me. The thing I casually thought about in the morning before leaving for the event was crystalizing and coming together right in this moment! Within 15 minutes of arriving, I was stepping out onto the stage. I was answering my call. I was stepping into the highest version of myself.

Manifesting can be that easy. What I have learned is that being detached from the outcome is key, at least for me. The Universe can help put all the perfect, specific pieces in place. If I can provide the deep desire and feeling, as well as the vague idea of what I want to see materialize in my life, the Universe will take care of arranging the details. It is always better than we can imagine it.

Photo of Becky Crump and I from Friday, May 3, 2019. Photo by Gianna Grace Photography