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Grandpa Del and grandma Florence circa 1944
We all experience moments of feeling compelled to repeat unproductive behavior, or drawn to a place or person with an intensity that doesn’t make sense relative to our life reference points. In these instances, a magnetic power seems to be at play from which it is hard to break free. The triggered emotional response influences our choices and actions. Frequently the root of these inexplicable episodes is in a past life experience left unresolved. It usually doesn’t feel good to have this type of compelling urge. It feels a bit crazy, out of our control, vulnerable and illogical. A look at our past lives reveals responses and behaviors that have no basis in our conscious history. We use intuitive tools to gain clarity, break the cycle and reclaim our power.
Past life experiences are brought to our awareness to give us the opportunity to heal unresolved emotions that continue to unconsciously affect the present. We can ignore, suppress or devalue the energy, but by doing so we are simply allowing it to remain in the backlog of unfinished business we tow around through this life and into the next. To objectively look at our own past life information we need to take the elevator up from our instinctual second chakra feeling space to our intuitive sixth chakra seeing place. From that center of our intuitive space, we ask to see the root of the repetitive pattern and the details of the experience from this lifetime or a past life that generated it. Once we have followed the story of that lifetime in our minds eye, we can acknowledge that our feelings were a valid response at that time. Then we say to ourselves, “This feeling is no longer true in present time.” In this way we reclaim our power to generate a new experience. Next we watch all energetic-charge from the unresolved or false beliefs it contains release. This can be visualized as the energy moving out of the past life memory into a bubble, that is sent far away and popped, or draining off of it through a grounding cord. With the energetic-charge released from this past experience, we ask our Akashic (soul) record keeper to update our soul’s record with this shift. As a final step, we fill in our energy space with a big golden ball of light vibrating at our own energy.
Our desire for answers and inner-peace sets the intention for what is revealed in the process of reading past lives. Ultimately the question we are asking of this information is, “what does it mean for my life now?” The answer we receive holds a deeper truth, allowing us to heal in this lifetime. Exploring our past lives helps us more gracefully move through the lessons our soul came here to learn.
The vampire is a human who feeds off the life force of other humans. It needs the blood of another human to survive. It cannot generate its own energy or be satisfied by the energy sources other human’s use to fuel their life. In the myth, once bitten by a vampire you become one. The change is not physically noticeable but occurs on a deep cellular level. The weakness one experiences from having their life force drained is so powerful, the only path to replenish it is through drawing on the energy of another who has not been tainted by the same form of depletion.
Energy vampires are not a myth, which is why we are so curious about the mythical vampire. After spending time with an energy sucker you feel drained, exhausted, depleted. Yet while you were with them you felt magnetically attracted in a way that was hard to resist. The vampire is particularly seductive because we feel the vacuum within the person and want to help them heal. This archetype is played out on TV and in movies, using stories that intertwine vampires with romance, love that is secretly destructive. The stories connect us to the familiar experience of being in a partnership that is charismatically hard to break free from but depleting, one that steals energy from us. In relationship with a vampire we gain a sense of being needed. The power to fulfill the need of another, provide life sustaining energy, is exceptionally seductive.
From the perspective of our energetic body, the vampire often taps into our third chakra (solar plexus) the center of our personal power. This cord plugged into our belly siphons off energy for the vampire’s use. There are many past experiences that can make us receptive to vampirism, such as wounds to our sense of empowerment. It may be a belief that to love one must give of themselves limitlessly. It may be we had a parent that was a vampire and we allowed them to use our life force to insure that our needs would be met. Or we were taught that “no” was not an acceptable answer when our boundaries were being violated. The vampire is a very dynamic persona. In order to get agreement from those who allow them to consume, they must quietly create a tantalizing allure to ensnare their prey. Or charismatically demand the attention of a room being interesting but not at all interested in the thoughts or experiences of others.
As we become aware of the energy vampires in our lives or the way we vampire the energy of others, we can reframe our boundaries and fill our own cup without taking energy from others. The vampire will not die if we refuse to give them our energy. Conversely, if you notice your neediness responded to as a form of vampirism; know that you will not die if others withhold their energy. The death is mythical. The vampire archetype will find another energy source or learn a healthier way to sustain itself. By applying new relationship skills and owning our energetic space we give others and ourselves the gift of reciprocal energy exchange.
In the moment when you feel depleted by a certain interaction or you sense a person in your life is worn out from your contact, pause. This awareness provides an opportunity to practice a new response. Visualize a protection rose the size of a STOP sign between you and the vampire. See the stem of the rose rooted deeply into the earth. And ask the rose to be a filter between your two energies, only allowing that which is neutral and positive to come your way. On the otherhand, if you notice yourself pulling on another’s energy, activate the “golden sun” tool. Imagine a large ball of golden light just above your head, larger than your aura bubble. In the center of that golden sun see a magnet that draws your energy back to you from any place, person or project where you have left it. See the golden sun fill with your own vibration. When it is full, reach up, pop it and watch it run down into your body like honey, filling up every cell of your physical body then overflow into every atom of your aura. Experience yourself resting in the sense of being full, no longer needing to consume energy from another. When you are full and have activated healthy boundaries the vampire archetype is neutralized.
We assume that bullying stops when we grow up and leave the playground of our childhood but it just changes form. Children grow into adults that learn ways to get what they want through other means. On the healthy side of development we take care of our own needs or ask others when we need something from them. Overt bullying is not tolerated among adults. Yet if a person doesn’t learn how to communicate their needs in a healthy way, they often continue to push their agenda on others in more manipulative ways. Sometimes this looks like a co-worker, friend or spouse who gives you options regarding a decision. When you choose an option that is not the one they want you to choose, suddenly it is no longer an option. You have no real choice. Control energy can be very subtle, such as someone telling you what you are going to do, rather than asking you what you are going to do. Or hijacking your time through pressuring you to do something they want you to do.
In the process of Self development, trying to control a situation is one way we test our boundaries with others and determine what is required to make things happen that we want to see happen in life. Children need good examples from adults who respect each other’s time, needs and energetic space. Adults who take care of the child’s needs and teach them healthy ways of getting their needs met. Behind all bulling behavior is a person’s fear that their needs will not be met.
When a person is bullying, you may sense their energy in your third chakra (solar plexus) personal power space. The control energy is trying to tap into your power center and redirect it for their use. It creates a sense of being pulled off balance. One part of us considers going along with their agenda to gain approval, even when we know the path is not right for us. Another aspect of us gets angry at having our needs and boundaries disregarded. This can activate resistance or conflict in the relationship. We don’t always have the desire or option to end the relationship with a person who bullies us, such as a family member or co-worker. In these situations we can use our energy awareness and practice self-care.
Here are two tools for preventing the bully energy sent your way from sticking to you:
1) Body of Glass – Imagine your body as invisible like Wonder Woman’s airplane. The control energy sent toward your body goes right through and has nothing to attach itself to.
2) Protection Rose – Visualize a rose that has a blossom as large as a stop sign and a thick stem that goes all the way to the center of the earth. Intend that this protection rose stands between you and filter out any control energy.
These tools will help you hold your center and feel unscathed by outside attempts to redirect your energy. With a clear mind and neutrality you can choose the path that is right for you.
The biggest block to creating the life you want may not be lack of vision or action but your capacity to have it. Like that old saying “have your cake and eat it too,” if you can’t eat the cake that you spent your time and money baking, you’ve participated in an energy depleting activity.
When you request something from the universe through visualization, prayer or simple intention and it never shows up, or it does and just as quickly goes away; it may make you doubt your capacity to create or the support of your higher power. Most likely something is blocking your ability to receive. Receiving is harder than it sounds. To receive you must acknowledge your worthiness for whatever has arrived. And override past experiences that programmed your mind with thoughts like, “That’s impossible. I can’t have that. It won’t last.”
While considering a goal for your life, use your inner-guidance, your sixth chakra or center of head space, to visualize what you want to manifest. In your daydreams or journal you can play with design, forming a ‘mock-up’ of the desire. Focus on the energy you would like to create, such as joy ease or playfulness, more than the form it will take. From your intuitive mind, look for any conflict between your desire and its possession. Notice areas of your life where you resist having what you want or where your vision is not grounded in reality. The power of bringing these conflicts to your awareness will begin the process of moving the block out of your space. Now visualize a bubble outside of your aura, like a magnet drawing the conflict energy away from your desire. Once you see all of the energy has moved into the bubble, send it somewhere far away with your minds-eye and pop it. This will create more space for you to have your cake and eat it too.
Here are some examples of thoughts that may get in the way of having what you want:
- Attachment to past creations that are out-dated, “Wow, my dream house is for sale and I can afford it but I’ve invested so much time and energy in the house I’m in.”
- Change, “I wanted this but now that I have it, I feel uncomfortable.”
- Control, “She has to agree with me or we might as well not have a relationship.”
- Old identity, “I was poor growing up. It’s always been hard to make ends meet.”
- Lack of permission, “Having time to play my guitar is selfish. I should be helping the kids with homework.”
- Unworthy, “I really don’t deserve to be happier than my parents, friends or lover.”
If you find yourself stuck in a pattern that is preventing you from having what you want in relationship, work, prosperity or any other area of your life, seek outside help from a trustworthy source such as a spiritual mentor, therapist or clairvoyant reader. We all have unconscious beliefs and programs at work in our space that are so powerful it is hard to see them, let alone move the energy ourselves. Finally, commit to replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts through regular affirmations.
They call it a break, the tipping point of a cresting wave, and it can break you if you aren’t tuned in, adjusting your body to the cycle of the swell. High risk physical activities like surfing have a way of focusing my attention. The ocean’s power and surge can strike us down and scrape us along the sand or coral bottom. To swim or surf in the ocean we have to attune to the rhythms of the wave, have courage and be alert. On vacation in Hawaii last week I watched people express joy, fear and thrill in the surf. I noticed how positively addictive emersion with a higher power can be.
The ocean challenges my sense of safety. I hesitate to rely on something outside of myself for survival, such as an oxygen tank when scuba diving or a surfboard to float on unyielding waves. Yet the magnetic pull of the ocean’s energy is more powerful than my fear. I took the plunge and learned to surf. One moment I was happily floating on the crystal blue ocean the next I had saltwater up my nose and was praying for my life, caught by the full force of a cresting wave. When I harnessed a wave, stood up on my surfboard and found balance, it felt effortless to ride that powerful sweet spot of energy. But if I wasn’t ready for the arrival of the wave or my body was not in alignment with her flow, I was picked up and churned into the sea, bobbing back to the surface like a cork on the other side of the wave. Heightened awareness brought on by immediate consequences that may cause pain cleared my mind.
Surfing forced my awareness into the present moment. To enjoy the sweet spot and not be beat up by the waves I had no choice but vigilant attentiveness to the endless ocean horizon, reading the rhythm of organic motion as each wave manifest before my eyes. It turned my mind to gratitude for the experience of my physical body. Appreciation for all that my body does for me without complaint at the instance I ask it: walk, swim, bend, breathe, balance, see, hear and feel. Through gratitude and attentiveness I become more aware of how my body informs my intuitive response.
I liken my relationship with the ocean to the cycles in my life. Sometimes I’m connected to the flow, effortlessly tuned into my inner voice and making choices that align with that energy. Other times I’m off balance, not tapped into my inner resources and it feels life is thrashing me about. In those challenging cycles I long for relief from the series of waves that keeps crashing into me, to catch my breath and regain my center. The respite eventually comes, I reconnect with the flow. In all that thrashing about, stress and stretching I have been relieved of many mental and emotional burdens that were no longer serving me. I’ve learned something and feel different lighter, stronger and empowered.
A desire to know the future is deeply ingrained in human nature. Seeing the future would eliminate doubt and simplify decision making. If I do this it will be a great day, a happy relationship, a rewarding job. If I don’t do that it will cause me a lot of trouble down the road. The Magic 8 Ball is a fun cultural example of this type of validation seeking. Wouldn’t it be great if someone or something would tell us that we are on the right path; that we are not going to have our heart broken or buy the lemon of a car? The truth is we are capable of doing this for ourselves. Our intuition is available to us to consult in every situation. Thanks to free will we have the choice to follow it or ignore it. This is personal empowerment versus being a victim.
There are often factors that divert us from heeding the advice of our intuition. We worry about what others think and feel. We desire approval from our loved ones and tend to do for others before taking care of ourselves. Acting on our intuition can cause us to feel awkward if our actions are challenged by someone who doesn’t think it’s a wise choice or the choice isn’t what they want us to do. We may not act on our intuition because we feel that we can see the future by choosing a familiar path with a reliable outcome. We have more control. Although the predictable path is not taking us to a place we want to be, it’s less risky.
The next time you are presented with a decision in your life and desire a different outcome than you have experienced in the past, pause to check in with your intuitive truth. A great way to do this is to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and try one of these exercises:
- See yourself taking the path. How does your body feel? Relief, tension. If you feel tension is it rooted in fear of the unknown or a sense that this is not the correct path for you? Then visualize yourself taking the alternate path. How does your body feel? At peace, uneasy? Listen.
- Visualize a rose to the right of you and one to the left. Ask your intuition, “What is my yes?” and see which rose comes closer to you. Then ask, “What is my no?” Notice which rose moves. Now ask a question regarding your decision and see the rose as a symbol of your inner yes/no.
The more often you directly seek your intuition the stronger it becomes and easier to access. Not knowing what will happen in the future is a part of the wondrous surprise of life. Many paths we take which result in great opportunity come with challenges along the way. If we had seen the hard parts in advance, would we have taken the risk or avoided it altogether?
When someone sees you for who you truly are it feels like a ray of morning sun on your face. We all want to be seen and accepted without judgment. It is rare to find a person who can see us for who we are without their projections intruding into that view. As infants we receive a form of unconditional love from our mother. We have yet to do anything intentionally to warrant her disapproval. We are her creation and she is proud of that. As we grow we explore and test the environment we are in. Curiosity drives us to take risks that may not receive the approval of our care takers. We begin to understand and be shaped by the responses of those whose approval we desire.
Inside is the authentic Self that yearns to be loved and approved of by those we desire to share love with. We can connect with others in a real and loving way by striving to be more neutral to the aspects of their character that are different from our own. That does not mean denying the existence of our judgments. It means looking at what formed them. They are an indicator of an area where healing is available to us. The more we take responsibility for our own projections onto others, the greater freedom we gain. Less of what they do disturbs us. We are able to look at it and be grateful for the reminder of our own humanity. We are able to have more compassion on ourselves.
Neutrality is one of the most powerful tools available to our intuitive truth. Without it we run the risk of not seeing clearly. When we carry emotions like guilt, obligation, judgment, pain or fear we adjust our information in response to a projected desirable outcome. Neutrality is about taking the energetic charge off of a perception, releasing the need to control others. Letting it be okay for them to be where they are at. Neutrality does not assume a lack of compassion or empathy. It doesn’t prevent you from having opinions about issues or experiences. What it does is free you from your resistance and blocks to seeing the truth. By giving others the gift of your neutrality you are able to see them and hopefully they will be able to come closer to truly seeing you. Namaste (the light in me sees the light in you).
Sunlight illuminates the space in between.
The space in between contains some of the most powerful creation energy available to us. It is also pretty uncomfortable to relax into, letting the emptiness resonate with our creative selves. We naturally want to fill the space up with entertainment, getting stuff done or other comforting activities. Peace with the unknown can be a frightening concept. Can you welcome it? Soak in it as if it is the lounge chair on your sunny beach vacation? When you do, the pause opens you up to hear your inner voice. Suddenly you discover a new interest, a desire, an unanswered question that has been lingering in the back of your subconscious draining your energy. In the silence you connect with something deeper that gives your life meaning.
Fresh out of college I was traveling in Kenya with my dad when he taught me a trick to creating connection with the space in between. We were staying at a dairy farm that rented a few rooms and served food. When I sat down beside him for breakfast he said, “Let’s leave a chair between us. It will give us a chance to meet new people. Because we’re traveling together it limits our opportunities to get to know other people. We’re harder to approach.” It worked. Immediately a couple walked in. They sat down in the only two free chairs and we got to know them.
In the next few days we had several adventures together, a jaunt to ruins at a nearby town, collecting cowry shells on the beach and an expedition into caves that housed slaves a hundred years before. A farm hand showed us places only a local kid would know. In the caves we spooked swarms of bats that darted overhead, saw six-foot long monitor lizards, crunched beetles underfoot and found symbols of voodoo. Our new companions added dimension to the adventure and our combined curiosity opened the door to more experiences.
Following the mystery is like that, if you plan every moment and stay rigidly attached to your program there’s less room for the spontaneous to work its magic, less permission to listen to your intuition and change course. The space in between is where pleasure happens. It adds richness to even the mundane act of eating breakfast. Sun filters through to illuminate our lives in those cracks of time that are undefined. Downtime, rest, doing nothing, this is where inspiration is born. It is where we can discover ourselves and what contributes to our happiness.
When you find yourself thinking “I don’t feel like myself today,” see if anyone comes to mind? There is energy in your space that has tapped into your power. It may be a global or cultural energy of fear, triggered by an act of violence on the planet. It could be a co-worker or family member that is driving a specific agenda. Whatever the source, it created an energetic cord that prompted you to match that picture. A trigger to match energy usually comes from previous life experiences that were unresolved.
Another form this takes is when you feel a person come to mind over and over again. It may be a person you don’t see every day or a person you haven’t seen in many years. It also may be a person that is in your life daily. Regardless it’s as if they are ringing the doorbell of your mind, over and over again. They are in your psychic space. You may like this person’s energy and feel inclined to let it be even if it’s a bit distracting. Alternately you may find it very irritating and want to pull a Rambo to forcefully kick them OUT of your mind.
The critical piece is acknowledging you have seniority over your own space. You are the one who manifested this body. What you choose is the bottom line rule for your energy and you have complete authority over it. Here are a few simple exercises that can be used to reclaim your psychic space:
- Imagine cleaning out the center of your head so that you are the only one in there. Spray it out with an imaginary fire hose or blow it clean with a fan.
- Visualize hanging up the telepathic phone line.
- Look at your relationship with the person and picture updating it to present-time with clear boundaries.
Seniority is an act of self-care. Seniority requires diligence and self-awareness. It is a gift to the person whose energy is in your space, inviting them to return to themselves.
Why are we blinded in certain situations, when it retrospect the truth seems so obvious? It may be that we have:
- Attachment to a specific outcome
- Resistance to how the information will change our life
- Hope that a person won’t deceive us or cause us harm
- An unspoken agreement with the person to not notice something they are hiding
- Given power to a past experience of our own, society’s or a parent’s
It is human nature to give preferential treatment to what we want to believe is true, brushing aside our intuition. Seeing the truth is not always pleasant. We start down a path with partial information, make decisions and follow our hopes. Then a new piece of information presents itself that changes our perspective on the path we’ve chosen. We need the experiences of the journey in order to collect those bits of information that illuminate our vision. Yet it is hard to agree to step into the unknown.
When we put one foot in front of the other in response to our inner “yes” “no” or “I don’t know yet” the action leads to greater clarity around a specific choice. We don’t always have all of the information at hand. In fact, if we had all of the information we may not have acted and thus missed a valuable opportunity. Noticing our physical sensory responses can assist in fleshing out the less overt details behind a decision. It is as simple as taking pause to look at our attachments, resistance, agreements and other potential blind spots through the lens of messages from our body. These messages help us discover facts that are material for making better decisions.
