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    • How to Find Your Sparkle: Five Unicorn-Inspired Tips

      by Angela A. Wix

      (Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

      "I saw this and it made me think of you," a friend said a year ago, handing me a cheery ceramic unicorn in the shape of a mini flower pot. A succulent was growing like a mane across its back. Along its side were the words, "Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle." She wasn't aware of it at the time, but I'd just started writing Llewellyn's Little Book of Unicorns, and the synchronicity couldn't have been more perfect; this succinct message was the very heart of the book.

      Unicorns are said to be courageous, fierce, and wild while also being gentle, compassionate, harmonious, and full of grace. They're passionate about themselves and the happiness of those around them. They're a symbol for standing out in all your uniqueness and being loved as your authentic self.

      Sometimes we lose track of that authentic piece of ourselves, though. We grow up hearing subliminal (or even very direct) messages that tell us it's not okay to be who we really are, and we end up hiding our true selves away. Often we hide ourselves so well that we forget things we love and what makes us feel fully alive.

      I remember when I first started dating my husband he would ask what I wanted to do and I would say that whatever he was interested in was fine. "But what do you like doing?" he asked in frustration one day. I stopped in my tracks, lost as to what my answer was. What did I like? Somewhere along the way I'd lost myself so much that I couldn't even respond to the seemingly simple question of what made me happy. It would take another twenty years and a dive into the world of unicorns before I could really figure it out.

      What makes you shine? What brings you exuberant joy? If you've lost sight of those things, it's time to take a cue from our unicorn friends and find your sparkle. Here are five tips to get your started.

      Tip #1: Find What's Blocking You
      Write down the top blocks that may be holding you back from a more joyful experience. Try to think of things on which you're spending your time that don't really inspire you. These are areas where you can stop devoting your attention in order to make more time for things you're actually passionate about. Some examples include watching too much tv, spending time with people who deplete energy, or overworking and not allowing yourself enough rejuvenating down time. Like skimming through the closet to declutter your clothes, if you search hard enough you're likely to come up with at least a few ideas for where you can create space for things that make you feel inspired and alive.

      Tip #2: Embrace Being Playful
      No matter your age, playing is important, and breathes new life into the humdrum of everyday. Too often, as adults we get caught in our daily patterns: wake, get ready for the day, work, traffic, errands, home-tasks, bed. We need a reminder to shake things up and figure out how to insert playfulness into everyday schedules. Whatever these playful activities might be, they should get you really excited and leave you smiling. Maybe you decide to write one daily poem, so that throughout the day you're watching for inspiration worth writing about. Or maybe you decide to dust off your bike and take a ride on your favorite nature path every few days. One of my "embracing play" items was pulling out a giant sticker book I had as a kid and consistently adding to the collection. There are so many possibilities!

      Tip #3: Figure Out Where Your Sparkle is Stuck
      Usually there's a key time period where we've left our sparkle, and we need to return to that source. For many this ends up being some point in childhood. The good thing is that we can go back and reclaim those things that we've left behind. The bad thing is that this can be a challenge to pin down! Luckily, there are certain things to which we can pay attention that will help clue us into our joyful treasures. These include:

      • Gifts we give others. We often end up giving away the things we love most, thinking that if we can't enjoy it then someone should. Is it puzzles, coloring books, board games, or bouquets of flowers? See if some of the things you're gifting away are things you should be sharing with yourself, as well.
      • Things we find nostalgic. What makes you fawn over the past? Write a list of things you especially loved doing in years past and pick at least one item to bring back into your present!
      • Our wants and desires. Be mindful of when you feel that pull within you saying, "I would really love to do/be/experience/have xyz." We often get in a pattern of denying ourselves, but within these wants and desires you might realize things that will set your sparkle meter to full-on shine.

      Tip #4: Look Into the Darkness in Order to Really Shine
      Unicorns are the elusive keepers of the dark forest. To move through our own shadowy experiences and find our way back in the light, we may need to rebuild trust in ourselves, others, and life itself before we're able to appreciate the opportunities for joy in our lives. Things that can help support your journey through the forest include:

      • Talking with a friend, loved one, or professional therapist. Seek out the unicorn-people in your life. Look for those you're inspired by and find support when you need it. There's no reason to go it alone through dark times.
      • Practicing nurturing self-care through things like balanced nutrition, a type of exercise you enjoy, getting enough sleep, work-life balance, and positive social interaction. Maybe this means reading before bed, taking a walk with a friend, or getting a monthly massage.
      • Allowing yourself to play. When you're in darkness, the idea of "play" may feel like hollow action, but just try it. There's a practice called Laughter Yoga that can feel silly and false at first, but after a while of "fake laughing," the body thinks it's real and sends out feel-good hormones along with creating new positive neuropathways in the brain. Our physiology can follow intention and action. Pull out a coloring book, put together a puzzle, drive around a remote-controlled car, or dance around the room with your dog. You may be surprised with what a boost play ends up being for you.

      Tip #5: Add Extra Glitter
      Intentionally act to add in extra glitter to your life. This is like laying down a trail to lead magic your way. There are endless things you can try to increase your level of happiness. Some ideas include:

      • Spending time with animals
      • Engaging in creative activity
      • Social connection and community
      • Getting out in nature
      • Practicing acts of kindness
      • Consciously looking for beauty as you go about your days
      • Intentionally seeking out pleasurable and fun activities
      • Feeding whatever fills you with meaning or purpose
      • Attending to a practice that makes you feel spiritually connected

      The world needs you for all the goodness and glitter that you are. Follow this unicorn-inspired wisdom to rediscover wonder and happiness. My hope is that these tips will lead you to a place of authentic joy and all the things that make you shine!

      Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2019. All rights reserved.

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    • Double Vision: Does Smoking Inhibit Our Power as Healers?
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      About six months ago, I got interested in energy healing and got some training in Reiki and other methods. I should mention at this point that I’m a smoker. I believe that we create our own realities, so I believe that if a person believes they will be healthy and live a long life, they can eat what they want, drink and smoke, etc., and they will still remain healthy. Do you think this is true? People seem to be shocked when they learn that I’m a healer but I smoke!

      – Cheryl

      Dreamchaser:

      If you REALLY think something is true on every level – mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, conscious, subconscious, higher self, lower self, etc. – then you have to believe that it is true for you. That is all that should matter to you. Obviously, you must have some doubts, or you would not have come here to ask this question in the first place.

      As far as health issues go, mass consciousness often has a stronger influence than just our influence alone. For example, we were told that saccharine causes cancer. Now however, researchers have recanted and say it is fine. For the longest time, people ran around thinking they were going to get cancer because they had consumed saccharine, and some even did.

      Mass consciousness WILL affect you if you let it. However, if you believe 100 percent that you will be fine, then you will be fine.

      Your higher/inner self is the REAL ruler here. It will tell you what you should do. There have been lots of times I have personally chosen something I thought I wanted that my inner self was saying I should not have. I learned the hard way.

      When I listen to my gut, I am always in perfect harmony with what is. I do believe your gut is kicking up on you, or you would not be here asking this question.

      You need to ask yourself why you believe you need to smoke and drink. That is the real issue, not whether or not you CAN smoke and drink. It is an addiction, so it rules you – you do not rule it. You justify this habit by saying, I can create my world. Well okay – create what you want with people who question your habits.

      As a healer, you have to consider your example to those around you. Would you advocate one of your patients smoking and drinking while you were trying hard to give them healing? If a medical doctor came walking in the exam room with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, telling you what you needed to do in order to be healthy, would you take him seriously on any level?

      Also, as a healer, you are responsible for creating a healthy environment for yourself and those around you. You can mess up your world all you want, but when you smoke around other people, you are affecting THEIR world. Secondhand smoke is deadly. We know this – it has been proven.

      If you were talking to your child, what advice would you give to that child? If you can say to your child, If your belief system is that you will be okay, then I am okay with you smoking and drinking, then you can say that to yourself as well. You are talking to a child you know – you are talking to your own inner child.

      I wish you reassurance.

      *****

      Astrea:

      Ancient cultures often smoked tobacco and other substances to create visions. Plants of that kind were and still are used for medicinal purposes. Even thousands of years ago, however, they knew that these substances could be very dangerous, and they didn’t use them on a daily basis either to invoke euphoria or to escape ordinary reality.

      We live in modern times with intense advertising encouraging us to use substances that are bad for us both spiritually and physically. We still have free choice, however, on whether we want to be a victim of that advertising and become an addict.

      For the record, I smoked from 1962 until June 28, 1976. The way I quit was to dump a pack of cigarettes out and roll up 20 one-dollar bills. Every time I felt I needed to smoke, before I did, I had to burn one of the dollars. I had to roll it up and set it on fire. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t burn the money.

      I quit smoking abruptly this way, and with each cigarette I didn’t smoke, I put the dollar in a shoe box and replaced the one in the pack. I still have all 20 of those cigarettes. When I felt I was free of the addiction, I looked in the shoe box, and I had six hundred dollars! That took about three months.

      In order to heal others, a person has to eliminate disempowering dependencies. The healer has to call the God Force to his or her person and transfer it to the person who is requesting healing.

      The body is a temple that is easily polluted to the point of uselessness. So is the spirit. It will be weakened further every time you light up. Addiction to drugs of any kind prevents a person from being able to heal others.

      Tobacco has particularly nasty spiritual side effects, and it makes your hair and clothes smell horrible. Smoke and energy linger. I could never get past that smell with a healer who smoked. Most people pick up the negative vibrations from the odor, and that’s enough to turn them off.

      Tobacco calls negativity to it no matter where it is, and all those vibrations might transfer to your client. Nicotine alters natural reality and puts you in disharmony with your body. It will put your victim into the SAME disharmony. You can certainly choose to use tobacco, but if you do, please don’t attempt to be a healer. Drug addicts can’t heal others. Why would you inflict that energy on others under the guise of healing?

      If you find it impossible to heal yourself of your nicotine addiction, then please don’t endanger others by telling yourself you can help them. Please don’t be that irresponsible! At least be mindful of our safety if you can’t be of your own.

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