“Who do I attract into my life, and why?” Everyone I work with asks me this. When times are hard, I always ask it of myself – because the people we attract into our lives will either set us free from our difficulties, or they will by making things more difficult teach us a lesson we needed courage to face.

I’ve been very blessed in my profession because over the years people from all walks of life have sought out my counsel. Enough of these are so highly accomplished and celebrated that it has brought me considerable attention. It’s a cause for deep gratitude on my part, but there is peril in it too – because all of the people I attract, whoever they are, count on me to protect their privacy.

News articles  that discuss some of the celebrities that they presume I work with are often generated by dubious publicists or other shit stirrers who will often link me to this or that film or pop star. This sometimes brings all sorts of interesting characters to my door wanting The Inside Scoop, but let me be clear:

I never talk about my clients or reveal their identities.

If you have read that I work with this or that person, take it with a grain of salt. I work with extraordinary people on a daily basis – some you’ve heard of; some you never will; you may be one of them. Who you are and what we discuss always has and always will remain between you and I.

I call this “The Silent Contract.”

There is integrity, a dignity inherent in every true human connection. This is as true of deep friendships as it is with relationships we value at work. It is as true of intimate romance as it is of our place in society. Trust is so vital to our lives that we always make “silent contracts” with one another, even if we don’t often realize it. If we are living as conscious beings, switched on to life’s most generous possibilities for fulfillment, we keep a steady eye on the inner workings of all our relationships, be they with friends, lovers, coworkers or clients.

This need to trust one another has become an open wound in our culture, given that all about us there is so much war, deceit and misfortune at large in the world. Yet we need not give into despair as bleak as things may seem. Our need to trust one another embodies a profound wellspring of healing and hope. We are lost without it.

I’ve been told of a Hollywood producer who has a wonderful motto on his office wall: “I am looking for people who are like-minded and fearless.”We have the same power to choose the people we attract. We can say to ourselves, for example, “I need emotional intelligence in my life, people with whom I can share my feelings,” or, “I want a friend who takes initiative.” I myself am often asking to meet new people who are open and seek to bring about positive change in their lives and have the courage to live their beliefs.

This thirst to know and be known by the people who have our best interests at heart is as ancient as civilization itself. In Judeo-Christian mythology, it is the great Archangel Raphael who guides us to the people we need to meet. There is even a prayer in his honor (easily accessed in full on the internet), which includes these beautiful words, which have never failed to touch me:

O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us: Raphael, Angel of happy meeting, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for. May all our movements be guided by your Light and transfigured with your joy.

That is my prayer for every one who has already crossed my path. I also direct it in my heart toward those of you whom I have yet to meet…

Utilizing intuitive insight and experience with the subtle energies of your living and work space is a great way to create a deeper awareness of your weaknesses and strengths.  From this perspective, you can work with your surroundings to discover and destroy blocks that limit your full potential, thereby re-creating an environment that is designed to serve a specific desired outcome -i.e.:  joy, prosperity,  peace, or you may desire a more sensual feel.

I call this, “Knowing Your Space”  – discovering the buried silent voice within that seeks to be known. Often, we spend too much time exploring answers to our lives through endless casual conversation.  We rarely know what people really think of us and waste energy analyzing yesterday’s conversations.  Throughout the years, I’ve discovered that one’s home reflects their relationship to their work and the people around them.  I have created intuitive techniques to help break through those negative blocks that are limiting and I have found that once we begin to change physical things in our homes, our work and relationships begin to radically change for the better.

The energetics of furniture or the misplacement of a painting often triggers erratic mood swings.  An office or room that is disorganized or used for multifunctional purposes can deplete or stunt a person’s prosperity.”

I think its a lot of fun to invite a really close mate over and ask them to  try intuiting your surroundings, examine, evaluate and reconstruct your living space. You’ll be surprised how much you sense and learn about what’s really going on with you.  If anything, you’ll enjoy sharing your space.

From a distance it looks like sheer paradise on La Gonave, an island in Haiti close to Port-au-Prince.  La Gonave is known as the forgotten island and sadly is stricken by an increase in poverty and misery. The deadly earthquake has made conditions far graver than we know. With a death toll of 230,000, the earthquake in Haiti is still causing death and disease due to lack of food, medical supplies and water.

Sonja Dickherber and her husband Jerry are the founder and principal organizers of “Feeding Haiti’. She is responsible for creating and maintaining feeding programs.  Her mission is to help the Haitian people meet the heart of their needs – spirit, soul and body. Her plea for additional resources is heard across the media waves.

La Gonave is desperately seeking food and water. Ask anyone of the locals about Sonja and they will tell you she is one of the most loved women on the Islands.  It’s hard to imagine giving up the luxuries that one takes for granted in the US to devote time freely to helping the poor.  Sonja is a remarkable individual who actively continues to concentrate on the people she has worked so hard to help. She is one such person who truly understands the effects of charity and devotion.  During these hazardous times one cannot help but be touched by the poverty and misery in Haiti. Yet, Sonja reaches out to find alternative resources and her continuous efforts are unyielding.  She points out with great poignancy the challenges of La Gonave, although close to Port-au-Prince, is too far away to receive the relief supplies they so desperately seek.

Please reach out one more time to help La Gonave find the resources it so desperately needs.

Make a heart felt donation to:

http://feedinghaiti.com/

No human being should suffer conditions of destitution.

I saw the movie Avatar today and declare myself an avid Na’vi fan. I think James Cameron summarizes it best with his interpretation of The Na’vi’s philosophy as an environmental message that we are all connected to each other.

The story portrays the character Jake Scully integrating the Na’vi traditions, skill sets and spiritual practices.  The films plot is central to Scully’s learning and dedication to embracing the Na’vi with his heart verses his pride.

I don’t particularly know anyone that inhabits a community that connects to a biological ecosystem such as Pandora, yet, I know many people who are experiencing isolation and searching for a connection as pure as the Na’vi.  And like most of us who have seen the movie, I was pondering on my interpretation of “I see you” – a Na’vi traditional greeting.  I began to imagine how I would describe to a child the phrase, ‘I see you’…. It occurred to me that a child would see who WE are and more so they’re very clear about seeing who THEY are.  Continuing with this chain of thought,  I methodically introduced the skills and dedication of Pandora’s humongous birds ridden in battle…. (omitting some of the details) a kid would immediately jump at the chance to fly one without the fear of falling off,

And lastly, I created a simple mental scenario explaining that central to the Na’vi’s spiritual beliefs is The sacred tree of Ewya….and most children would easily grasp the simplicty of being connected to all things, Yet as adults, we scrutinize and divide ourselves among us. And there lies the fault of our isolation. And it saddens me how many religious groups have protested about a movie that embodies the same imagination and simplistic truths that a child can grasp.

Imagine embracing the concept of “I see you” where it offers an opportunity to invoke imagination and inner dialoging with the question, “What part of me has never been seen?” “What  would I love to do, if I could do anything?”  It’s a great first step to actualizing the power of “I see you”.

Food for thought: If we’re continually projecting how we want others to see us; we are only projecting our lack.

Whether you are entertaining a new venture or thinking of partnering with someone new, it is always difficult to know whom you are dealing with and especially early on in the game.

The trick is to “hold on to your energy”.

If you find yourself in a business meeting lunch or dinner, eat nothing or very small amounts. Over-eating can throw you off your focus and SWITCH OFF your  INTUITION. Chinese practitioners are known to call the stomach, the second brain, which means, as you over-eat, you’ll be thinking with your stomach….and depending what you eat….can greatly effect your thinking.

To get a greater EDGE over the person, make sure they’re EATING and if you have to nibble at something, nosh at a salad.  In this scenario, less is always best.

Believe me, as a Brit, I hasten to suggest this but if you can refrain from drinking alcohol, by sipping small amounts of water will help “grease the wheels,” improve concentration and eliminate stress.

TRUST YOUR GUT – You’ll know when to leave. Talking too much to anyone about the what’s and who’s etc can greatly diminish your energy and flatten the deal.  EXIT as fast and politely as possible. If you can, its always better in business to leave first.

The most important gift you can give yourself after your meeting, is silence.  It will inspire introspection and help quieten your mind.

Eating lighter before prayer, vision work or meditation helps the mind remain clear. It is through a clear mind, we manifest our wildest dreams.

New Year resolutions can take their toll…I don’t know about you but I’m a tad tired of being told to make a list of everything I’m suppose to release.  Most of us have already gone through abject fear about losing a job or having to listen to someone who is accomplishing success.  And its at times like this we can either obsess about inflating our egos or we may find our selves in a downward spiral of envy.

SO… lets take this minute and TURN IT AROUND.

THINK about what you want.  Do you have a dream?  Do you want to do something bigger?

Take a moment and hold that thought… and expand on it, extend it, make it bigger than you ever thought possible.

This particular technique is one I use frequently and especially when I’m creating a new intention.  Is this idea going to help anyone? If an idea is about you and just for you, it’s likely to appear too small and can lead you to a dead end.  BUT if its an idea that can help someone feel more confident dramatic, humorous, beautiful, slimmer, creative or prosperous, then go for it, make it bigger and you will more than likely see this idea take off.

The key is to be passionate about something you love and you’ll find that all the limitations about how to sell and promote become more accessible. I know that when I’m excited about something, I am passionate to talk about it.

If you seriously can’t find an intention you want to manifest for 2010 then find something that makes you feel excited, then go talk about it and share it. Make that your intention for the New Year.

Food for thought: If you are taking other peoples words or ideas, add something to it and make it your own.

The web is saturated with top marketers who sell the importance of owning the top TEN strategies, or TEN ways to get to the top of the ladder, or TEN ways to make a million.  When you find yourself suffering from overwhelm:

I suggest one strategy…… INSPIRATION

and if you push me further I would add STIMULUS.

If we become too obsessed about our goals and achievements, our intentions can become marred with deceit and dishonesty.  It stands to reason that when we’re feeling over saturated and burdened, the TEN ways to blah blah to the top can often add to overwhelm.  Have you ever followed someone else’s advice or methods that take you further down the rabbit hole? Keep in mind that when we are at our most desperate, we attract desperate people and situations.

I suggest taking a few minutes for yourself and simply relax your mind and body.  Ask yourself silently a few times,  WHO am I?  This will help energize the mind to clear thinking.  When you find yourself trying to fix a situation or obsessing too much about a person, a job or thing –rule of thumb is that you’re asking the wrong question.  Reframing the question will stimulate your thinking.

Example:  How do I choose my next career?

Reframe sentence to:

Where do I shine the best?

Food for thought: When we are inspired to take action, we manifest

I spend a great deal of time interpreting spiritual applications for clients who for lack of a better word are continually perplexed.  And it occurred to me, that most of us complicate our lives unnecessarily. Ask yourself, are you learning something that is relatable and comprehensible?

For example, if you are fortunate to hang out with a working Brit, you may hear remarks such as “A Cheesy Ham-Filled Brioche is still a fancy ham bun.”…. “D’You Know what I mean?”  And to be honest, they make a point.

Various spiritual thinkers and teachers are effective in establishing basic presuppositions of what they think exists, and how it can it be proved. I am not one to criticize, however, their endless search of evidence to support such theories, can often complicate the very teachings they advocate.

If you ever find yourself interpreting complex information, playing around with words may give you a better understanding.

For example, using a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

“Personally, I hold that a man who deliberately and intelligently takes a pledge and then breaks it, forfeits his manhood.”  Mahatma Gandhi

A hypothetical response from a working Brit might be, “  Its important to keep a promise. If you break it, you become nothing and there’s nothing left.” ….“D’You know what I mean?”

Using an innovative play on words can help you decipher and simplify even the most complex information.

I remember the anticipation of meeting Santa. It was exhilarating – a rendition of joy.  My embrace with Santa was a meet and greet. An odious smell of roasted malts with a bit of alcohol saturated the air. In hindsight, I was sitting on a really bad Santa and oblivious to the potential perils that are out there.  There’s nothing worse than smelling a bad Santa. The aroma emitted from mothballs is very toxic. …I held my breath.  I never received my secret Santa gift.

We have so many names for Santa, such as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas and simply Santa. So many religious fanatics from different denominations oppose Santa as a symbol of commercialization. Still, the figure of Santa Claus as a jolly, benevolent, plump little man in a red suit still dominates the west.

If Christmas is the one time of year when people of all religions come together, to love and honor each other, it stands to reason that one could create another type of Santa, a Dream Santa. Because a dream world can be far more exhilarating to a child than the real world. A dream world allows us to manifest. Imagine a Santa that lives in your heart all year round.

In daily conversations with friends, family and colleagues, many people are feeling bombarded by depressing and negative news.  What are some simple steps a person can take to help tune out this negative and create a life of thriving?

An inner life needs cultivating, and the little things we nurture help contribute to and develop our spiritual awareness.  So how do you start cultivating your inner life?

The key is to start with your immediate communications.  Two great questions to ask yourself during your daily interactions: “Where can I grow from here?” and “Am I growing with you?”  How you answer these questions will help you intuit a situation and ascertain whom to disassociate or disengage with at a very fast pace.  It’s a quick measure to implement and will give you a clearer picture of whether or not a situation or person supports your life with gain or lack.