- How Blissful Are You? Take the Quiz!Continue reading →
How Blissful Are You? Take the Quiz!, by Tess Whitehurst
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
Author's note: at the end of this article, you'll find a simple quiz that assesses your holistic happiness and wellbeing with the help of nine essential life keys. But first, let me introduce you to the wisdom behind these nine life keys, which is the guiding force behind my newest (and perhaps most exciting!) book, The Art of Bliss: Finding Your Center, Getting in the Flow, and Creating the Life You Desire.
When I first started practicing metaphysics, I thought of it as a process of adding something, or tacking on something extra. You know, my normal everyday existence, plus a new romance or a new job (or whatever it was that I chose to manifest). In time, however, I began to notice that if I was out of alignment with prosperity consciousness (for example), a prosperity ritual would not merely bring forth riches out of nowhere. Rather, it would help align me with the energy and the feeling of prosperity, so that prosperity would naturally begin to flow into my life experience. And, if there were aspects of my habitual thought/feeling stream that weren't in alignment with prosperity, something would arise that helped these aspects fall away. I might "happen to" discover a book such as Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, or "inadvertently" vocalize a limiting belief (such as, "We always live to the edge of our means"), and someone would notice and point it out, helping me to see that it didn’t always need to be true.
So I began to see that it wasn't about adding. It was about opening up to, and tapping into, the generous flow of prosperity that was already in existence. Like finally beginning to hear, and then dance to, the music of prosperity that was already playing on the radio.
I also noticed that when I worked on manifesting something that really brought joy to my heart, that joy always fueled my success. The more joy, the more success—and the quicker it flowed. So this led me to understand something else: that our truest desires are not something extra, but a part of our true selves. When we remember that we are energetic beings, we see that we are not just a body and a mind, but a unique flow of divine energy—like a pattern, a blossom, or a song.
Consciously manifesting things that bring us joy, then, is a process of opening up to who we really are and aligning with the divine energies that naturally want to flow through our life experience. It's like how water wants to flow through a river in a particular way, or how an acorn wants to become an oak.
What's really fun to me about the wisdom in The Art of Bliss is that it's a framework for helping us clear the way for this flow, and to get in alignment with it, in the most ideal and natural of ways. So it's not just about doing a prosperity ritual or a love spell, but rather about opening up to the already existing flow of prosperity or love, and seeing how this nourishes everything else that's going on in our life. Once we make a habit of interacting with the conditions of our lives in this holistic way, our life experience begins to spiral like a glittering galaxy into greater and greater levels of harmony, wisdom, and joy.
To introduce you to the nine life keys that provide the framework for The Art of Bliss (which are derived from the feng shui floor plan and the wisdom of the I Ching), and to help you quickly assess how each one is currently flowing in your life, I've prepared the quiz below. In your journal or notebook, number 1 through 27. For each quiz item, write a number between 1-5, a five meaning "strongly agree," a three meaning, "sort of agree," and 1 meaning "strongly disagree." After the quiz, you'll find a key.
- Most of the time, no matter what is going on in the outside world, I feel a sense of stillness and calm at the center of my being.
- I exercise regularly, and feel good about my exercise habits.
- I enjoy spending time alone.
- Regardless of my current "job," I feel that I am constantly flowing into deeper and deeper levels of joy and satisfaction when it comes to my overarching career path.
- I regularly follow the path of my passion and spend time on the things that interest me.
- Even though it is beyond words, I feel that I have a strong sense of myself: I know what I want, and I feel grounded in authenticity.
- Everyone always seems to be helpful.
- I often find that I happen to be "in the right place at the right time."
- I feel that I have a lot of support in my life, from both seen and unseen realms.
- I creatively express my uniqueness.
- I often feel playful and imaginative.
- I take good care of my inner child.
- I am comfortable with my body, and enjoy the feeling of being present in my body.
- I am a sensual person: I love slowing down enough to really enjoy things like scents, massages, beautiful landscapes, music, and yummy food.
- I am happy with my current romantic situation.
- I love being seen and appreciated.
- I regularly shine my light and share my talents with the world.
- I am well known and well respected in the ways I would most like to be.
- Everything I need is always provided for me.
- It feels natural for me to receive an ample supply of money and resources.
- At least somewhat regularly, I let myself enjoy the things I really like to enjoy: going out to eat, taking vacations, etc.
- Even if I’ve endured hardships in the past, I’ve healed from them, or I am currently moving toward healing from them.
- I have a positive relationship with, and feel supported by my family, or a family-like group of friends.
- I feel connected to, and inspired by, my genealogical and/or spiritual heritage.
- I feel grounded and centered, at least most of the time.
- I feel like my life is—generally speaking—in a healthy balance.
- I feel like there is a healthy connection between the various aspects of my life experience. For example, my partner gets along with my family and my job is in alignment with my passion.
Key
Numbers 1-3: Serenity. This is the key that has to do with exercise, study, meditation, self-improvement, and that sense of stillness that allows everything else to flow more smoothly and enjoyably.Numbers 4-6: Life Path. This key is related to your sense of authenticity, and your alignment with your truest inner self. It often manifests as an overarching career path, and it infuses everything with a sense of purpose and joy.
Numbers 7-9: Synchronicity. This key has to do with things flowing smoothly, easily, effortlessly, and auspiciously. Things like finding parking spaces, procuring employment, and catching your plane fall into this key, and it also has to do with your connection to all your helpers in both seen and unseen worlds (i.e. angels, friends, and people you don’t even know).
Numbers 10-12: Creativity. The Creativity Key governs your relationship with everything you create, whether it's children, cookie recipes, or paintings. It is the most playful key, and is related to laughter, spontaneity, and the wellbeing of your inner child.
Numbers 13-15: Romance. This key has to do with your love relationship and your ability to appreciate your body and sensual pleasures. When this key is activated, you're more receptive to all the gifts of this life experience.
Numbers 16-18: Radiance. The Radiance Key is all about the way you are seen and known in the world. In many ways, it's about the full realization of the Life Path key—the generous, outward expression of your deepest inner joy.
Numbers 19-21: Prosperity. This key has to do with resources, blessings, and gifts of all sorts. In our culture and in this present time in history, it is closely related with money and finances.
Numbers 22-24: Resilience. My favorite key, this key is aligned with our ability to weather the storms of life and to reap the blessings that they bring. It also has to do with our physical health and family relationships.
Numbers 25-27: Synergy. The key that falls into the center of all the other keys (imagine a tic tac toe board), The Synergy Key is about balance and flow, and about the way all the other keys interact with, and nourish, each other.
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2012. All rights reserved.
- Double Vision: When Spirit’s Messages Don’t Make SenseContinue reading →
I have been trying to communicate with my angels for a while, but all I receive are phrases that don't make much sense. Further, there is nothing in these messages that prove they are from my angels. I try all the recommended steps over and over, but have no luck. I pray for a clear path to my angels, try to clear my mind and open to any response they might give me. I ask for a sign that they are here with me, but get nothing. Do you have any advice or suggestions?
- Yolanda
Dreamchaser:
Whenever I hear someone (myself included) saying, "I ask for a sign but I get nothing," I always think of the movie Bruce Almighty when Bruce is driving and he is yelling for God to give him a sign. On the road in front of him is a truck completely filled with road signs. Of course Bruce does not see those signs as the answer to his prayers, so he continues to scream at God.
If you are asking for signs, you are being sent signs. You just aren't recognizing them.
You never did say why you want to talk to your angels so badly. Is there a specific reason you must talk to angels in particular? I suggest that for now, you quit trying to talk to angels, and start by asking for God to answer your questions and prayers instead.
Each human is different. Each person has a method of spiritual guidance that works better for them than any other method. For example, the best way Spirit can get me to sit up and pay attention is to send an animal my way.
Lately I have been seeing lots of Blue Jays. Basically, the Jay is here to tell me that I am moving into a new period in my life, and I can own it or run from it. Either way, the Jay will help me. The Jay doesn't care which direction I choose; it is MY choice to make.
So you see, Yolanda, I received a sign from God via the Blue Jay. Most people, however, would not look at the little Jay sitting on the fence post as a sign from God - especially if they were set on hearing from angels.
I also suggest you learn how to meditate. Most people hear the word meditate and immediately imagine someone sitting in a lotus position, serenely humming "OM." That works really well for some people, but for other people like me, that form of meditation is not the answer.
I have found that if I go to the beach or out into the woods and sit and stare at the water (or into the trees), I will start to have "random" thoughts come into my head. These are thoughts I know I did not create or think up on my own. THAT is how I meditate, and that is how I hear God speaking to me.
Sometimes what we "hear" will not make sense at that time. Write it down anyway and go back to it later. Often it will make sense as life continues to unfold around you.
You need to get logic, self-doubt, worry and defensiveness out of your system, for those energies will only blur your "reception" from ANY spiritual being that wants to communicate with you. I think you personally are suffering from DOUBT.
I wish you clear and open channels.
*****
Astrea:
Some people seem to be blessed with a naturally clear connection to their angels, while for others, this requires effort and concentration. Some of us are even downright resistant to such messages because sometimes we don't want to "hear" what our angels have to say.
Regardless of the reason you're having trouble accessing your guides and angels, there are many rituals you can do to tune in. For most of us, it just takes practice.
The first step is to identify which angel or guide you wish to reach. Similarly, one of the difficulties most people encounter has to do with being clear about what they are seeking. You should form the kind of information or guidance you're looking for into SPECIFIC questions.
I won't do general psychic readings because the information I receive will be overwhelming and very vague. A general question like "What should I do with my life?" would be just as overwhelming to a guide or angel in Spirit. Determine what you're trying to achieve before you ask your guides or angels for answers.
The Kabbalah offers lots of ways to invoke angels for specific purposes. There is also a vast body of angelic lore that may help you decide which angel to ask. The most obvious choices are the four archangels who rule the twelve astrological signs.
St. Michael (who happens to be the only being who is both an archangel and considered a saint) is for Fire Signs, intellectual pursuits and mental balance. The Archangel Gabriel is for Air Signs, and also for emotional healing and comfort. The Archangel Raphael is for Water Signs, warming and healing. The Archangel Uriel is for Earth Signs, concentration and motivation.
There are also twelve "Messenger Angels" who take your desires and prayers to your assigned Archangel, but without your birthday, I have no way of knowing which one you might want to consult. According to angel lore, every one of us has been assigned a guardian according to the date, day, hour and day of the week of our birth. Again, I'd need your full birth information to determine this angel's identity.
Once you've decided which Angel you wish to ask about a specific situation, write down the name of that Angel in Enochian, Hebrew or English. Sleep with it for one week under your pillow. Keep a notebook right by your bed so that you can write down the helpful clues that come to you in your dreams.
When the week is over, light a white candle and burn the paper as you whisper prayers of thanksgiving for the answers you've received.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.