Believe In Bunnies

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Acceptance

angels Believe Energy Healing Purpose

Eight Arms

Half of my back is covered with an octopus tattoo. He’s reaching up at an anchor that is donned with a crown. I had the anchor and crown done in November 2011. The octopus came to life over several sessions spanning from February to August 2018. It was only today when I realized what it means to me.

When people I ask, I just mumble something about liking octopuses. My memory flashes back to the Veruca Salt album cover for Eight Arms to Hold You, the golden octopus with the crown, and the album cover (actual vinyl album that my parents had) for Jefferson Starship’s Red Octopus, the red heart with the octopus arms… I’ve been drawn to the imagery for decades.

I got the anchor and crown done as a tribute in a way. My dad bought his first boat when I was 11. He worked so damn hard for his money and having such a luxury was a big source of pride for him—a symbol of back-breaking work and commitment. The anchor for that piece of my life and the crown for me, the princess turned queen. I got a massage shortly after that tattoo healed and the massage therapist taught me about chakras, the root and the crown, as she thought my tattoo was symbolism for that. At the time I didn’t know anything about chakras. My subconscious sure did.

Last winter, when it was time to continue the tattoo journey on my back, I told my master artist to wrap an octopus around the anchor, to go as big as he wanted. I gave some color input and left the rest up to his mastery. I thought it was just thematically correct and in line with my connection to octopuses. This morning, as I sat at my nearly-clear (finally!) desk, day four of a four day weekend, ready to take on lesson plans, rescue emails, prep for Cyber Monday in my wellness business and catch up on course work for my University of Wellness certification, I got a lump in my throat and realized: I’m trying to be the octopus… but I’m six arms short.

A sneak peek

I can do it all, but I can’t do it alone. I’ve tried to go it alone, resting on adages like, “If you want something done right, do it yourself” and expecting little to nothing from others. It’s time for me to open my two arms and welcome the support that’s around me. I’ve been cracking open, just a bit here and there, to let the help in. Today, I surrender. Universe, I’m welcoming the support with open arms.

I can have the strength of eight arms, if I’m open to the help. I’ll let the big guy on my back remind me of that. Much love.

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November 25, 2018
Believe Energy meditation Purpose

Screwed?

I was on the way to meditation class Friday night and my tire pressure light came on. The car seemed to be driving fine and I was halfway to class so I stayed attentive to the feel of the drive (which is technically what we’re supposed to do when we drive anyway… there was a time before indicator lights!) and made it to the parking lot. Hopped out of the car, flicked on my phone flashlight (another convenience we once survived without) and there it was: a very flat rear tire and what looked like a going-flat front tire.

I hustled into the building, climbed the stairs, hugged my teacher Lisa and told her what happened. As I was dialing AAA, Lisa suggested I get that squared away and come into the class. Class was only going to be an hour and that’s usually the minimum wait time for assistance to arrive. I thought about it… but I know myself. Even if I had a 5 hour wait time, I would struggle to focus in class. I function best when things are squared away, like I had to clean off a section of my desk before I sat down to write to you today. Now that I think about it though, sitting through the class would have been an exercise in growth for me…

As nerdy-adult as this sounds, AAA is excellent. I’ve used them twice for tire troubles and they’ve been kind and attentive on the phone, as have the service people they’ve sent out. The woman who helped me on the phone was named Destiny (I’m just realizing the beauty in this now). Within 30 minutes, half of the estimated time that Destiny told me), a tow truck arrived. The nice man took a look at the tires—thankfully the front tire was just fine! That rear tire was flat almost to the rim though. When he took the flattened tire off and rolled it toward me, there it was: a shiny silver screw, embedded in the rubber.

Acceptance screw

He popped on my spare and I was on the road back home before class even let out. I told the bunny-daddy to take my coconut milk ice cream out of the freezer. I needed a dark chocolate treat to balance out my night. Then yesterday, I went to my favorite service station to get my tire repaired. My favorite service advisor Fenix came into the waiting room after about 20 minutes. He had the saddest look on his face when he told me the tire could not be patched. I needed to buy a new tire. I shrugged, smiled and said, “This is all part of owning a car. It’s not like I can 3-wheel it home!” Relief crossed Fenix’s face. I guess he, like many people in service industries, is used to facing angry or disappointed customers. I think I wowed him with my acceptance. In a beautiful exchange, he wowed me with a $20 discount.

I could have freaked out at any turn, like when the light came on, when I thought I had two flat tires, when my plans changed out of my control, when, even with the discount, I paid $150 for a new tire. But I didn’t. I had clarity. I knew how to manage myself by getting it taken care of right away. I knew kindness and gratitude were the answers. I knew that a screw in my tired didn’t mean I was screwed. Building good Car-ma…

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September 23, 2018
Believe Bunnies Healing Purpose Rescue Uncategorized

Accept Yourself

Madonna sang “Express Yourself” (still one of my all-time favs) and today I’m remixing it to Accept Yourself.

I do my best work in the morning.  I’m undeniably a morning person and I’ve allowed myself to create this detrimental thought pattern that I can’t write well, don’t communicate at my best and won’t perform at my highest potential later in the day.  When you get up as early as I do, later in the day is comparatively early for most people.  So I find myself at a challenge, right at this very moment.  I’m sitting here, at the keyboard, at 7:08pm.  I’ve convinced myself over the course of decades that I can’t write this late.  It’s clear to me that I am more focused in the morning hours, so I accept that about myself—truly I celebrate that.  This morning, then afternoon, then (my version) of early evening flowed by with lots of productivity in other arenas, but the blog still isn’t written and the emails aren’t answered.

And then the brain starts going: You can’t write at night.  You won’t produce with quality.  It will take you 10 times longer to answer emails.  And don’t forget about that pile about day-job work on the table…

I can play out those limiting beliefs or I can choose a new pattern, choose to “unstick” myself from thoughts that are holding me back from tasks that need to be done (those Rescue emails aren’t going to answer themselves!).  Instead of walking circles around the house, stumbling through smaller tasks while the mind swirls around the writing, I chose to accept myself, wrench open the laptop and write to you.  And I will answer the unread emails as soon as I’m done here.  And I’ll try not to beat myself up if I have to stay up past 8pm or if I leave a task undone tonight.

I took a class Friday evening on the Aroma Freedom Technique (I totally did not anticipate writing to you about this! I sat down intending to write about this week’s 2 rescues!).  My mentor Gina Califano taught about the technique and guided attendees through this powerful practice.  In her introduction, during which I took copious notes, Gina talked about overcoming our resistance.  She talked about how experiences create our beliefs; our beliefs create our behaviors; our behaviors create our experiences.  There’s the cyclical nature of it all.  The Aroma Freedom Technique is designed to get us “unstuck,” to facilitate release, to help us reach new heights.  I had such an incredible response personally to the technique that I’ve chosen to seek certification in Aroma Freedom so I can share it with you and your fur-babies too.

And here I am, two nights later, needing to release the limiting belief about when and how I can accomplish tasks.  I accept myself as a morning person and producer but it’s time for me to embrace other moments of me, not just the top-speed, ultra-effective version.  Gina said, “Once you’re aware of it, you can start to move it out.”  It’s time for me to breathe, to loosen up the rigidity I enforce on myself, and to keeping hopping my hop toward my highest potential with grace.  Much Love.

Acceptance

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April 2, 2017