Are You Having Trouble Sleeping?
You have a long-standing problem that you can no longer ignore.
Is the story finished?
Not Yet.
When will it end?
Until it’s over, you wake up in the middle of the night, haunted.
What is real and what is not?
Are you taking on the world’s troubles? Whether or not this is your case, you are a victim of your thoughts.
If anxiety, depression, trauma, and fear are trying to take control, it’s time to claim your energy. The challenge is to understand it. The goal is to make sense of the situation.
One way is to let go of the familiar and the safe. However life works, there isn’t much comfort here. You are overwhelmed, with too much to do.
Focus on all the ways you’re safe and cared for.
Can you see your worries diminish and disappear? Imagine happy endings.
DO THIS
This is a perfect opportunity to book a Reiki or Reflexology session. Both of these modalities promote homeostasis, something we all need.
MEDITATION
You are preparing for bed and sleep. Feel the pillow under your head. Feel the texture of your favorite sheets on your bed. Your blankets and covers enfold you and make you feel comfortable. Your mattress is perfect.
The air in your room is perfect. You breathe evenly, smoothly, and deeply. Each inbreath encourages you to sink deeper into the covers. You rest more deeply and feel peace surrounding you.
As you relax, you find yourself sitting on a comfortable bench in a secluded park. You notice the sky and see the clouds. A deep evening sky approaches the area.
There is no one around. The evening is coming. Everyone has left this part of the park. A quiet breeze blows around you.
You hear the gentle sounds of evening birds in the area.
You sink into your covers, floating into dreams and a deep restful sleep.
As you drift into sleep, you are aware of sounds in the room around you while, at the same time, you accept sleep.
You are aware of the darkness of your room. You embrace the comfort and safety you experience now.
You release the concerns, cares, and worries of the day. This restores your peace and calm.
You accept a deep and restful sleep. This allows you to wake feeling relaxed, refreshed, alert, and prepared to experience a positive day.
Thank you for reading this article!
Books are available at thurmangreco.com
Set Yourself Free
Our thoughts, to a great extent, dictate our lives and our beliefs. We determine what we believe based on information which we receive and observe and live with and live by. This information begins coming to us even in the womb.
The world, by and large, is a busy place. It’s hard to figure out what is real and what is not. The outside world influences us as it enters our brains and memories.
I have one experience. You have another experience. And, on the long haul, each of us has a sense of reality. Right and wrong are based on our experiences. The bottom line here is this: There are many truths in this world.
One truth I embrace (among many) is this:
When something doesn’t feel right, let it go.
Letting something go is sometimes necessary to save oneself.
Once upon a time in my life, I realized that if I was going to live an authentic life, I was going to have to make some dramatic changes. In order to bring about the things I needed and in order to live the life I needed, I had to do some things for myself and by myself.
No one around me cared or even believed I could do what I did.
Looking back on things now, I realize that my chances of success were small to none. My decision verged on desperation craziness.
Looking back on things now, I send continuing gratitude to my younger self.
My whole plan hinged on clear thinking. I had to reverse some thought patterns to free myself from my limiting beliefs. And, mainly, I silenced the inner melody that continually told me that I was not enough.
This song kept singing that I was not strong enough, brave enough, or clear-thinking enough to get where I needed to go.
All I had was a goal. And, actually, I only had one option. My situation was a disaster but nothing actually fenced me in. My feet were not tied down. In order to get to this place, I had to see my situation for what it was without the many filters that we all experience daily: isolation, oppression, and believing in my own helplessness.
So, one lovely September afternoon, I climbed the stairs in the Woodstock Reformed Church, walked the length of the second floor hallway, and opened the door to the Pastor’s office. I walked into the empty room, put the keys to the food pantry on his desk and quietly walked out.
As I retraced my steps down the hallway and descended the stairs without the keys, I felt different. I experienced physical, mental, emotional, spiritual shifts as I walked down the stairs to the ground floor.
By the time I got to the church parking lot, I was comfortable with this new feeling. I was lighter. I saw things in clear, pure colors.
I had made the right decision. This was something I was supposed to be doing.
The hungry I knew fought a daily battle for survival against all obstacles. Some fought against incredible odds as they struggled with homelessness, mental illness, unemployment, helplessness, and extreme misfortune.
I saw them work to make their dreams (of what might have been) into a reality. These struggles all began with a wound of some kind.
For sure, things improved with the better nutrition offered at the pantry. Their lives were simplified a bit when they were able to put less energy into the struggle against hunger.
Nothing prevented me from leaving. I should have left sooner. I lived for years in my own self-imposed oppression.
My feet were never tied down. But I was blindfolded. I was unaware of my own limits created by my senses, language, and culture.
DO THIS:
Write a letter to your future.
“There are some beliefs that once defined me. I am letting them go now. I trust myself.”
MEDITATION:
Find a quiet, secluded place where you feel safe. Get comfortable. This meditation may benefit from healing music, incense, essential oil, and candlelight.
Remove your shoes. If you remove your socks, you may want to apply a healing lotion.
Begin this meditation by walking around for a minute or two. This will give your feet some freedom and it will improve the blood flow.
Now, stretch your feet in all directions. Move your toes left and right, up and down. Stretch them. Wiggle them.
Rotate your ankles gently in all directions.
Now, hold one foot in one hand while the other hand gently turns each toe separately. Softly pull each toe. Try to spread your toes out. Give each toe separate attention.
Move on to the ball of each of your feet. Press into the metatarsal area gently using your thumb or a knuckle. Make small dime-sized circles along the metatarsal area and then move out to the entire sole of your foot.
Enjoy this experience. Give healing energy to your whole foot. Send positive energy to your feet. They work for you all day.
Now, give attention to the muscles and tendons in your feet. Rub them slowly and gently. Work your feet from the ankles down to your toes. Massage and loosen any tight places. Give equal attention to each foot.
Move your attention to the soles of your feet. Massage your feet as you move your hands up and down the sole of each foot. Apply pressure to the soles using circular motions with your knuckles.
Take a moment to tune into your feet. What feelings and sensations are you experiencing?
How are these sensations and feelings connected to the rest of your body?
It is time to return to your day now. Thank your feet for the job they do for you each day. Touch your feet for a moment as you send nurturing and gratitude to your feet.
This book is available at www.ThurmanGreco.com
Thank you for reading this article. These posts are seed chapters for a book I’m writing about the Spirituality of the Tarot.
Peace
Thurman Greco
Truth Matters.
Does someone you know seem to be inauthentic? Maybe that’s not the right word. Perhaps you feel something is just a little “off”.
First, ask yourself this: Are you being honest with yourself? Because, truth is, dishonesty happens all the time.
When I find myself asking, “What’s happening here?” it’s time to look at myself in the mirror. I’m thinking about actions, words, and whatever is going on.
After all, sneaky underhanded behavior, lying, and cheating are universal among humans.
When you suspect that something is a little “off”, it’s time to be honest and face the truth. OR watch your back.
Either way, you are being blamed for their actions or your mistake.
Are you making things better or worse for yourself? Are you being honest about it all?
Be alert and trust your instincts. You don’t want to be the victim of someone else’s deceit. Align yourself with your highest morality.
The truth matters.
DO THIS:
Discuss the issue with yourself. Be honest and face the truth to make sense of the situation. Whatever you need to discuss, say it to yourself.
MEDITATION:
Sit down and get comfortable. Take a few minutes to close your eyes while you let your attention focus on your breath. Breathe in and out… in and out. Let each breath relax you more.
Opening your eyes, you find yourself in a forested park, walking along on a smooth path. You come upon a group of trees. This area is secluded, protective, and rich with birds, butterflies, and the perfect temperature. You enjoy seeing the birds flying among the trees. You see the blue sky and the clouds through the branches.
Beneath one of the trees you see an inviting bench. You know this bench is waiting for you to sit, enjoy the scene, and become more calm and relaxed.
After sitting on the bench for a moment, a being walks up and sits down beside you. This wise and gentle person is here to help you by answering a question.
To help you focus on your question, this being hands you a small gift to hold while you focus in.
Meanwhile, as you meditate on your question, you hold the small stone.
You give thanks to the wise one. You know that the answer you seek is coming to you soon.
It is time for you to leave now. You set the stone down on the bench, send gratitude to the universe, and leave the area. You are walking away on the path.
You know that the answer you seek will come to you soon. Maybe today or maybe this evening. It will come to you.
You also know that you can return to this place any time you need. The trees, the bench, the stone, and the path are here waiting for you.
The wise person will share the wisdom you need whenever you ask.
Take some time now to focus on your breathing once again. You are aware of air as you breathe in and breathe out. You become aware of your surroundings. You feel the chair beneath you. You hear the sounds of the room. You open your eyes and return to your normal waking state, feeling refreshed, relaxed, and comfortable.
These books are available in paper and ebook versions. Get them at www.ThurmanGreco.com
