Newsletter – September 2018 – Decluttering …

Decluttering the Physical Unclutters Our Mind

As I am moving shortly, it is the process of preparing for my move that brought about this month’s theme on decluttering. Going through all my things reminded me of the spiritual concept that clearing out our physical environment clears out our mind.

Our Possessions Make Our Home. Give Us Comfort.

Our Old Possessions Are Familiar. They Help Us Feel Secure.

However, we sometimes hold onto unused, unneeded, and unnecessary possessions. Things from our past. And we often don’t know, or even remember, how or why we acquired them. Why we keep them.

See here to read full message.

Rosemary McCarthy, September 2018

Grace Can be Bestowed upon Us; We Can Also Invoke a State of Grace

The Universal Law Of Openness – Part 3 of 3

As I explained in Part 1, to fully take advantage of the gifts the universe has to offer us we have to be “open” – in a state of receptivity – in our heart-space, and in Part 2 I put forth that we also have to be open to transformation – to what is keeping us from being open-hearted – in that state of receptivity.

See here for Part 1    here for Part 2

(This is the 2nd of my series of 8 articles on Universal Laws. Links to other 7 at end).

Openness also Means Being Open to New Ideas and Approaches

The Law of Openness also open to alternatives. To new ideas and approaches. To seeing things through a new lens. Open to changing our views on some things.

Being open to alternatives means that we must be receptive to the fact that our individual perspectives are not the only ones, and that they may even be misguided.

It helps to remember that over our lifetime most of us have changed our minds about things we once believed to be true.

We must be open to questioning some of our views – especially those we inherited based on old paradigms. On our health. The Planet.

What we were taught about our past – especially regarding people of Indigenous cultures, other races, and different orientations. On the safety of our food supply. How our scriptures are interpreted. Open to new ways to dealing with personal and collective issues.

New Ideas Regarding Our Health

Being open to universal flow, we can tune into the innate wisdom held in our bodies. Christiane Northrup tells us in Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom that our “symptoms and/or illnesses … [come with] messages” and suggests we ask ourselves, “Am I open to listening to them?”

She explains that our illnesses speak to us, and that we should listen to the messages our bodies give us – for the purposes of understanding, healing, and possibly making life changes – not for an in-depth analysis of why it happened. (1).

The Universal Law Of Openness - Part 3 of 3

Little Ideas that Help Our Planet

There are many little things we can all do for the Planet. For example, we can exchange our lush green lawns and properties that require much watering for those that use various decorative alternatives that use less water.

In Kelowna, B.C. (a dry, arid area in the Okanagan valley) I have seen a combination of different colored pebbles, small rocks, mulch, and small flowering and cactus-like plants and shrubs create beautiful properties.

Being Open While Keeping Healthy Boundaries

As we open spiritually and move toward a more open-hearted existence, we have to strike a balance between being open and having healthy boundaries.

And as we become more open and compassionate towards others we must be aware of our emotional boundaries. People may attempt to walk all over us, lure us to getting pulled into their dramas, or, we may become victims of their neediness or agendas.

When we become more open-hearted our judgment and discernment do sharpen, but we still must exercise some caution.

Most people who overstep others’ boundaries don’t even realize they are doing it, but others are very skilled at enticing people into their emotional worlds. They want company in the murkiness of their pain and deep emotions. As Dr. Ronald L. Holt explains in an interview with Julia Griffin, “open-heartedness [requires] conscious mindfulness …” (2).

Becoming empowered may require us to close our boundaries a bit. Creating healthy boundaries is a balancing act.

We may have been so open that we allowed too many people into our sphere – and to the extent of over-taxing ourselves. However, as we aim to adjust our boundaries we may now find that we put up walls and close off to others too much.

Keeping our boundaries healthy while remaining open is a fine line to walk, but a necessary skill to hone. While being open to others, we cannot allow their neediness to affect us. We can’t close off to everyone, nor can we let everyone in.

I once heard that we should let others into our sphere like windows that we can open and shut – not have wide-open doorways that let everyone in or walls that shut everyone out.

The Universal Law Of Openness - Part 3 of 3

We do not live in a bubble. When in crowds or around those who are needy or whose negative energy drains us, we can protect ourselves from the effects. Envisioning yourself surrounded by a cheesecloth type fabric will filter out negative energies while allowing the good ones in.

To take advantage of any kind of help or to properly perceive any philosophical, spiritual, or biblical teachings our hearts must be open and our minds quieted.

To be happy, feel empowered, discover our passions and life purpose, become our best self, and live in harmony with those around us we have to be open to universal flow and to the unconditional love it holds – and to extend love’s qualities to all others. We have to keep to the Universal Law of Openness.

*Protective Devices and Mechanisms: Methods we use like control, aggression, defensiveness, interrupting, changing the subject, or any other emotional device can help us avoid dealing what is really in front of us. These mechanisms aim to uphold, protect, and defend false, limiting beliefs, biases, or insecurities we hold.

(This article (in 3 parts) is the 2nd from my series of 8 on Universal Laws that I first published in the Starlit Path Magazine from March 2018 to December 2019. Here is the link to the magazine).  Links to other 7 articles below.

Endnotes

(1) Christiane Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing (New York: Bantam Books, 1998), 638-9.

(2) Ronald L. Holt, “The Christ Grid,” interview by Julia Griffin, Spirit of Ma’at: “Earth Energies” 3, no. 12 (July 2003), http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/jul3/prns/holt.htm

-© Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020.

See here for Part 1    here for Part 2

To Stay Updated on new posts and my upcoming books – Sign Up for my free monthly newsletter here  OR Follow my Facebook page found here

here for this blog page  here for my other blog page – both with many articles on our personal, collective, and planetary journeys to peace.

If you appreciate this article, I invite you to leave a review on the book’s website found here or on its Face Book page found here 

You can share this article as long as you include the full copyright message below. If you share through Facebook (a link is below), the message will automatically copy.

—————————-

Link to posts on the other Universal Laws (some are long, so are broken up into  more than 1 post)

Link to full post on Part 1/8 – An Intro – Understanding Universal Law HERE

Link to Part 2/8 – Universal Law of Openness HERE

Link to Part 3/8 – Law of  Authenticity HERE

Link to Part 4/8 – Law of Attraction HERE

Link to Part 5/8 –  Law of Cause And Effect  HERE

Link to Part 6/8 –  Law of Balance HERE

Link to Part 7/8 –  Law of Expansion HERE

Link to Part 8/8 – Recap of Universal Laws HERE

————————

©Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020. All rights Reserved. To copy, share, or distribute this post simply ensure the content is copied in its entirety, is unaltered, and is distributed freely and for no monetary or personal gain, and that this copyright notice and the link for the article and the website www.yourjourneytopeace.com are included. You can contact me at: rosemary@yourjourneytopeace.comBlessings and thank you, Rosemary.

About Why ..hereAbout Journey …  here 

The Universal Law of Openness – Part 2 of 3

 In Part 1 of this article I explained that to fully take advantage of the gifts the universe has to offer us we have to be “open” – in a state of receptivity. We must ensure we keep the floodgates to the universe open. Living in faith, with open hearts, and expressing love and its qualities out into the world keeps us in a receptive mode.

For Part 1 see HERE   Part 3 HERE

(This article (in 3 parts) is the 2nd from my series of 8 on Universal Laws.  Links to other 7 articles at end).

I discussed the importance of living heart-centered rather than mind-centered.

When we live heart-centered and with open hearts, we are living at our highest, purest form. Information flows freely back and forth.

When we live from a mind-centered place, we are existing at a lower, denser level. Mind talk is louder than the heart, so communication to the universe, to Spirit, often does not get through, or it is muffled. T

I explained that from a heart centered place we are open to others and can receive and give love freely, and that from a mind-centered place we are less open to others. Love cannot flow back and forth as freely. .

I also explained in part 1 that to fully adhere to the Law of Openness we must see life through a clear lens. That we must see the light and love within all of us – our sameness – not from the murky distorted lens of the created Self that sees our separateness and focuses on our imperfections and differences.

I concluded part 1 by offering suggestions on how to clear the lens of how we view ourselves, others, and life in general. Clearing our lens open us. It transforms us.

This article/blog post is based in concepts from my books

“Your Journey to Peace … “  About Book  here 

  “Why We Are the Way We Are” About Book  here 

(Available in print and e-book, Cover images below)

Becoming Open Creates Personal Transformation

Personal Transformation can only occur if we are open to changing. To allowing old habits and ways of thinking and being to slip away. This makes room in our lives for what will better support a new, improved, more trusting, and empowered heart-centered version of ourselves.

Connecting to universal love by being open-hearted is transformative. It improves our life in many ways:

  • We respond to situations more calmly – rather than react over-emotionally, aggressively, or passively, or bring past issues or situations into the present;
  • we make decisions based on facts and truths – we are more perceptive of others and judicious of facts. We make wiser decisions;
  • our intuition increases – our instincts and intuition improve, ideas just seem to pop into our head, and we get “gut-feelings” about people and situations. We make better decisions;
  • our judgment and discernment improve – we can now see through others’ inauthenticity or falsehoods. We become more confident in our choices;
  • we feel more empowered – responding calmly, having good judgement, trusting the guidance we receive, and seeing through falsehoods or others’ selfish attitudes helps us feel more confident in ourselves and our choices, and therefore more empowered.
  • we are more apt to avoid hurt feelings – we can more easily see through others’ neediness, selfishness, agendas, manipulation, or protective devices they attempt to put on us;

The Universal Law of Openness (part 2 of 3)

To shift from living mind-centered to an open-hearted way of living in the world we must believe:

  • that being open to universal love and the power it brings with it will serve us better than being ruled by the mind.
  • that allowing the heart to lead the mind is better than continuing to allow the mind to snuff out what our heart or soul wants to tell us.

The mind treasures the fears we hold onto, the judgements and prejudices that lurk in its corners, the controlling natures that make us feel powerful, our reactions that give us momentary satisfaction, and the defenses and protective devices we have erected that aim to protect us but actually keep us distanced from our True Self and from others.

Self-Examination helps us to look where our mind may be leading us that may not be serving us well. At how we love and view ourselves, as well as our ways of being toward others, situations that arise, and the world in general.

It allows us to examine our focus. Our motives. Our reactions. The impact our choices have on our ultimate well-being, and the well-being of others.

Self-examination aims to improve our lives. To transform us – for the better. It asks us to be honest with our self. Be willing to trust and surrender to the ebbs and flows of the process. Be open to looking at our self – honestly. Open to insights we receive and new ideas that are presented to us.

However, the purpose of self-examination is not to make us feel wrong

but to uncover and release what is blocking our connection to our true Self.

It helps us to become more conscious.

Letting go of old habits and ways of thinking requires that we become vulnerable – lay down our guards. It is these guards that create blocks to universal flow and the love and power it holds for us.

(This article is the 2nd from my series of 8 on Universal Laws that I first published in the Starlit Path Magazine from March 2018 to December 2019. Here is the link to the magazine).  Links to other 7 articles below.

© Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020.

See here for Part 1    here for Part 3

To Stay Updated on new posts and upcoming books – Sign Up for my free monthly newsletter here  OR Follow my Facebook page found here

here for this blog page  here for my other blog page – both with many articles on our personal, collective, and planetary journeys to peace.

If you appreciate this article, I invite you to leave a review on the book’s website found here or on its Face Book page found here 

You can share this article as long as you include the full copyright message below. If you share through Facebook (a link is below), the message will automatically copy.

—————————-

Link to posts on the other Universal Laws (some are long, so are broken up into  more than 1 post)

Link to full post on Part 1/8 – An Intro – Understanding Universal Law HERE

Link to Part 2/8 – Universal Law of Openness HERE

Link to Part 3/8 – Law of  Authenticity HERE

Link to Part 4/8 – Law of Attraction HERE

Link to Part 5/8 –  Law of Cause And Effect  HERE

Link to Part 6/8 –  Law of Balance HERE

Link to Part 7/8 –  Law of Expansion HERE

Link to Part 8/8 – Recap of Universal Laws HERE

——————————-

©Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020. All rights Reserved. To copy, share, or distribute this post simply ensure the content is copied in its entirety, is unaltered, and is distributed freely and for no monetary or personal gain, and that this copyright notice and the link for the article and the website www.yourjourneytopeace.com are included. You can contact me at: rosemary@yourjourneytopeace.comBlessings and thank you, Rosemary

About Why ..hereAbout Journey …  here 

 

The Universal Law of Openness – Part 1 of 3 (And Part 2 of 8 on Universal Laws)

The Law of Openness denotes that to fully take advantage of the gifts the universe has to offer us we have to be “open” – in a state of receptivity. Grace, light, energy, and unconditional love are continuously being beamed to us from the higher realms, and to the Planet as a whole.

For Part 2 see HERE   Part 3 HERE

(This article is the 2nd from my series of 8 on Universal Laws.  Links to other 7 articles at end).

To access these gifts, we must ensure we keep the floodgates to the universe open. Living in faith, with open hearts, and expressing love and its qualities out into the world keeps us in a receptive mode. This is honoring the Law of Openness.

Jesus said, “come to me like children” – childlike. With awe. With trust. With hearts open – able to receive and give love.

The expression “the heart is the seat of the soul” means that it is through our hearts that we tap into our divinity – our higher selves. To access the qualities inherent in our divinity we have to be in our heart space – not in our mind.

This article/blog post is based in concepts from my books

“Your Journey to Peace …   About Book  here 

  “Why We Are the Way We Are” About Book  here 

(Available in print and e-book, Cover images below)

Living Heart-centered vs Living Mind-centered

When we live heart-centered and with open hearts, we are living at our highest, purest form. The communication lines to the universe are open: love, grace, wisdom, guidance, and information flows freely back and forth. Insights come to us.

Our questions are answered. Our concerns addressed. The messages we receive guide us toward our ultimate happiness, life purpose, and our highest good.

When we live from a mind-centered place, we are existing at a lower, denser level. Although living heart-centered offers us more than living mind-centered as we have access to universal flow and the power it holds, the mind is louder than the heart.

When we are mind-centered, our hearts desires and any messages we might receive are drowned out. Messages are not heard. The communication lines to the universe either contain static or are blocked completely.

Any insights or messages that do get through may be blurred or misunderstood. And as our focus is mainly on mind-centered matters and not on those that feed the heart or soul, the only guidance we hear or pay attention to is geared towards our mind-centered concerns.

From an open heart-centered place we can accept unconditional love and freely offer love and its qualities like kindness, understanding, compassion, fairness, and acceptance to others. We live life from a place of me-and-you.

The Universal Law of Openness (part 1 of 3)

From a mind-centered place we are less open to others. We react to people and situations at the level of the mind – not from the heart or the soul. We see life and others through barriers – through the mind’s veil of worry, fear, limitations, defensiveness, judgement, control, prejudice, suspisciousness, etc. We erect protective devices.*

From a mind-centered place we cannot fully accept or offer love as our barriers put conditions on love. We live life from a place of me-versus-you.

Advantages of Being Open-hearted

Some of the benefits of operating from an open-hearted place and allowing universal love and guidance to flow through us are:

  • we are confident and self-assured – while still remaining humble;
  • we have faith that our needs will be met and that things will work out – worry does not cloud our awareness or block our connection;
  • we are flexible – we do not get upset when unforeseen things happen. We adjust when necessary;
  • we can accept whatever is going on at the moment – regarding ourselves, others, and the world around us, while working to change what is necessary in a calm, confident manner;
  • we are mindful of our reactions – we are less inclined to harsh, defensive, aggressive, or overly-passive reactions, or of projecting any kind of negativity onto others or situations;
  • we live harmoniously – our attitudes and behaviors create harmony – not conflict, as we avoid getting involved in gossip, drama, or needless debates or confrontations;
  • we live spherically – open to all that is around us. A wide variety of opportunities are open to us that we would not be aware of if we were closed off.

The Universal Law of Openness (part 1 of 3)

Seeing through a Clear Lens / Clearing the Lens

The path to peaceful living requires that we perceive and react to life through a clear lens.

Connected to universal love our true Self sees through a clear lens. It sees our sameness and the light and love within all of us. It reacts to life from the place of me-and-you.

The barriers we put up from mind-centered living override how our true Self perceives life and causes us to react from our created Self.

This created Self sees life though the murky distorted lens of our separateness, focusing on our imperfections and differences. It reacts to life from the place of me-versus-you.

To ensure we are connected to our true Self and reacting to life and others through a clear lens – through a me-and-you perspective – we must be open to:

  • recognizing and unblocking what is keeping our lens murky;
  • gaining control of our mind and its ideas of separation: thoughts, attitudes, or actions based on our imperfections and differences;
  • examining our reactionary states;
  • acknowledging any greed, judgment, prejudice, or need for control that comes from a mind-centered focus;
  • becoming mindful;
  • self-examination;
  • personal transformation.

The Universal Law of Openness (part 1 of 3)

*Protective Devices and Mechanisms: Methods we use like control, aggression, defensiveness, interrupting, changing the subject, or any other emotional device can help us avoid dealing what is really in front of us. These mechanisms aim to uphold, protect, and defend false, limiting beliefs, biases, or insecurities we hold.

This article is the 2nd from a series of 8 on Universal Laws that was first published in the Starlit Path Magazine from March 2018 to December 2019. Here is the link to the magazine.  Links to other 7 articles below.

© Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020.

See here for Part 2    here for Part 3

 To Stay Updated on new posts and upcoming books – Sign Up for my free monthly newsletter here  OR Follow my Facebook page found here

here for this blog page  here for my other blog page – both with many articles on our personal, collective, and planetary journeys to peace.

If you appreciate this article, I invite you to leave a review on the book’s website found here or on its Face Book page found here 

You can share this article as long as you include the full copyright message below. If you share through Facebook (a link is below), the message will automatically copy.

————————

Link to posts on the other Universal Laws (some are long, so are broken up into  more than 1 post)

Link to full post on Part 1/8 – An Intro – Understanding Universal Law HERE

Link to Part 2/8 – Universal Law of Openness HERE

Link to Part 3/8 – Law of  Authenticity HERE

Link to Part 4/8 – Law of Attraction HERE

Link to Part 5/8 –  Law of Cause And Effect  HERE

Link to Part 6/8 –  Law of Balance HERE

Link to Part 7/8 –  Law of Expansion HERE

Link to Part 8/8 – Recap of Universal Laws HERE

————–

Copyright ©Rosemary McCarthy, first published June 2018, updated May 2020. All rights Reserved. To copy, share, or distribute this post simply ensure the content is copied in its entirety, is unaltered, and is distributed freely and for no monetary or personal gain, and that this copyright notice and the link for the article and the website www.yourjourneytopeace.com are included. You can contact me at: rosemary@yourjourneytopeace.comBlessings and thank you, Rosemary

About Why ..hereAbout Journey …  here