By Lori Lines

We heard it time and again throughout 2020, and 2021 is no different, "we are living in unprecedented times." There's no telling what will flash across our newsfeed or be in bold print on the newspaper's front page from one day to the next. But, ask yourself, has there ever been? Describing the current epoch as unprecedented, uncertain, unpredictable falsely implies that there has ever been any certainty in life.
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Certainty is an illusion. We all have life paths, better described as a series of checkpoints, opposed to step-by-step GPS navigation, due to our own free will. Taking into account the free will of every member of humanity, it only makes sense to expect the unexpected.
 
Given that there are no real certainties in our current reality, we have nothing to lose by letting go of the notion of precedented, predictable, certain times. In fact, a lot can be gained when we begin peering past these illusions, a construct in the matrix, and learn to surrender to the unpredictability of life, and declare freedom from responsibility for things beyond our control.
 
This can be a frightening proposition to some, if not most, who have never considered it. The idea that there are no guarantees or concrete parameters by which reality must abide can cause panic. Yet, when we think about how much we miss out on, overlook, and how limiting the illusion of life's certainties can be, it's a fear worth challenging.

By clinging to certainties, like wisps of clouds, we disempower ourselves, losing trust in our ability to manifest the circumstances we wish to live or cope under circumstances we want to avoid. We can also lose connection to the divinity of the universe and faith that no matter what we are faced with, we can learn, grow, and evolve. Clinging to the vague notion of future probabilities causes us to look past our present experiences, opportunities for development, growth, blessing, and gifts.
 
Instead, set the intention that no matter what you face, you have the strength, intelligence, wisdom, and courage to face your circumstances head-on. Have faith that even the worst events in your life can be a chance to achieve ascension and realign with the power of Universal Love.
 
Often, when we have faced trauma, heartache, and grief, we reach desperately to gain certitude before each new step. Our inner child warns, "the last time we were caught off guard, things went very badly," so we seek security in the illusion that the future is predictable. This is an attempt at control, a coping mechanism that may have served a purpose at one time but no longer does.
 
This pursuit of ultimate control can feel crushing. Carrying the burden of preparing mentally, emotionally, and perhaps materially for every eventuality that may arise and holding yourself responsible when an outcome you never considered is played out, is too much for one person to bear.
 
Have a talk with your inner child. Let them know that they are safe, cared for, and loved. Reparent the frightened child, teenager, or wounded warrior within, letting them know that while there are no guarantees in life, you are fully equipped to provide and protect them in the face of obstacles. Reassure this inner child through your heart space. Let them know surrender means they are also open to unexpected blessings, miracles, and growth. 

Living your life based solely on what you expect to happen is very limiting. When negative mindsets lead to negative expectations, we can end up fearful and stagnant. On the other hand, depression and apathy can be the result of positive expectations not met. Expectations create a framework, outcomes fall outside of it result in fear, frustration, and disappointment. Meaning, when something good falls outside of the schema, we often overlook it and neglect to appreciate our good fortune.
 
Best to release expectations, when expectations arise, reframe your mindset with an affirmation like "whatever will be will be," or send an intention out into the universe that you will be open to all possibilities and welcome unpredictability as an opportunity for creativity, personal development, or celebration. Then align yourself with that thought and LIVE it.  Why limit yourself to set expectations when the divine usually has something much more beneficial in mind, like a lesson or a blessing?

Letting go and surrendering happens with practice. Consider engaging in some shadow-work or rootwork to confront your fears and trauma. Make a list of all the things you will have the freedom to do when your time is not spent focusing on the future and its uncertainties. Practicing mindfulness, presence, and meditation can ground your energy and keep you focused on the present. Building a trusting relationship with your higher self and the divine nature of the universe is a nurturing, healing pursuit in any circumstance. It provides assurance that you are supported, cared for, and loved, a few of the seldom certainties we can have.

When the illusion of certainty is released, many come to find life is more enjoyable, and things run more smoothly. No more sleepless nights, chronic worry, or panic when faced with the unexpected. Letting go and surrendering may seem daunting, but true freedom, as they say, is not given. It is won!

In Love and Truth,

Lori Lines

By Lori Lines
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In my last full article, I mentioned how important asserting Boundaries are, especially when we are going through the Dark Night of the Soul.  I also thought writing an article to expound on the importance of boundaries in our lives, in general, is warranted because this seems to be an issue many share with me as part of taking responsibility for ourselves when relationship issues come up.

Having just passed the holiday season, many of us know the frustration, anxiety, and grief resulting from feeling overextended, especially when we are unable to say no. Your aunt can’t wait to receive her box of your famous fudge, the kids don’t understand, while Santa has an unlimited budget you don’t. Perhaps your partner expects you to buy the gift for their office secret Santa party, as if you already don’t have so much to do. It can all feel like too much!

Of course, frustrations like these are not limited to the holiday season. Feeling stretched too thin, shouldering too many demands and responsibilities, and having your needs sidestepped can happen year-round. We often find ourselves in these situations, asking, “why do people treat me this way,” or “what gives them the right?" Often, the reality is we do! 

Boundaries are an essential part of self-care, self-love, and harmonious relationships. They are the limitations and restrictions we establish within our interpersonal connections, designating responsibility and defining matters of respect. We often fail to instill and uphold boundaries because we fear we will anger, frustrate or alienate others.
 
Boundaries define expectations and agreements within your romantic relationships. For instance, some couples agree talking to exes is out of the question, while some determine socializing with single friends can compromise the connection. Just as you set physical boundaries in the closet, “your side and mine,” you can even set boundaries in the bedroom.
 
Friends and family relationships also call for healthy boundaries. No drop-ins without notice, a refusal to have your relationship or parenting criticized, or perhaps no forced interactions with another friend or family member that triggers discomfort or trauma.
 
You can also improve your work-life when instilling boundaries with bosses and coworkers, whether they are permanently enforced, no calls after hours, or temporary, no last-minute projects during the holidays.
 
Remember, boundaries are a necessary, important part of interpersonal functioning and entail whatever limitations preserve our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health that protect your wellbeing.
 
Think about the boundaries you place on yourself. You may have a bedtime, a workout routine, work deadlines, and even limitations on your tv and social media time. They are focal to your productivity, vitality, and mental health. It happens that you may spend too long on your smartphone, skip the gym for a few days, or stay up too late. When this happens, you re-center, refocus, and re-establish your personal boundaries because, without them, your life would be rather chaotic!
 
The same applies to your external relationships. Boundaries provide much-needed structure and balance, yet they can be overstepped, challenged, or altogether disregarded. Accountability is crucial to maintain boundaries. When a boundary is violated, it should be voiced. Left unchecked, it will be crossed time and time again, harming the relationship, your self-worth, and wellbeing. 

Failure to inform someone that they have crossed a boundary also robs them of the opportunity to heal, grow, and self-actualize. By acknowledging that a boundary has been crossed, you reinforce your own value system and worth, but you also give the person, who overstepped, the chance to explore themselves. What made them think this was okay? Did the boundary make them feel insecure, angry, hurt?

 While healthy boundaries mean you are not obligated to help them in this exploratory, they can learn a great deal about themselves and their own boundaries by being held accountable.
 
There are times when people refuse to honor your boundaries. Keeping these people at an emotional and spiritual distance is needed. Through the act of distancing yourself, you enable them to gain a great deal of insight and growth, even if it takes time, when they are ready to take responsibility to look within themselves.
 
People often reject boundaries because they view them as repressive and restrictive. When, in fact, they foster a completely different energy. When you set and uphold boundaries, there is freedom! Like a child who knows the limits of safe play, we are free to be more fully ourselves when we share healthy boundaries. We can be open, honest, and vulnerable without feeling guarded, resentful, or fake.

Setting, respecting, and maintaining boundaries is an act of love. Boundaries promote self-love and unity. They enable you to better love yourself, teach others to better love themselves, and foster a sense of harmony and trust in your relationships. Anyone who wants to be in your life will come to embrace your boundaries because boundaries say, “I want you to love me, and I want to love you….here’s how”, what a beautiful opportunity! 

In love and truth,

Lori Lines 

By Lori Lines

The purpose of the first installment of our deep dive into the Dark Night was to help you understand how this spiritual transformation can lead you down into the depths of despair, worthlessness, and emotionality. (Visit my here to see Part 1, if you've not read it yet.)
 
The Dark Night of the Soul can kick up trauma, insecurities and fears that have long been repressed, causing some to have to face the stark, often jarring, reality of their own mortality as the ego-self dies. To encapsulate my own deep Dark Night, it was an enduring period of a process relinquishing many created limiting beliefs, traumas, insecurities, wounds, behavioral and thinking patterns that no longer served where I was meant to go in life. In looking back and bringing what I've learned to the fore, it was indeed a rite of passage of sorts - A holy experience that is difficult to explain with mere words but is real nonetheless.

Socially and individually, the Dark Night causes upheaval as our mental schemas and social constructs become askew, turning life into a chilling house of mirrors. Life loses its meaning, making everything seem unfamiliar and foreboding. Yet, as grim as things may look, this is a story of hope. As we suffer every night, the darkness will recede at dawn, a time of re-birth and illumination. 

 The question is, how does one get through the Dark Night, with nary a flicker to lead the way?

Knowledge is Power
The best way to cope with this soul journey is to learn about the process and its purpose. Unfortunately, when I went through this journey, I had no frame of reference and I didn't know what to call it. So, luckily, you get to benefit from my experience here. :) 

Awareness of what it is, is as vital as why it is to endure the ego-death, loss of identity, and fear of the unknown throughout this spiritual transition. Knowing what you are going through, there is a peace and tranquility in knowing your trials and challenges can serve your greatest good and the good of society.

Don't Try to Steer the River
Like turbulent waters, swimming in the murky depths, during the Dark Night, can be profoundly confusing, tiring and draining. To prevent exhaustion, it is essential to swim with the current, not against it. To know when to stop and rest and to start paddling again is part of the lesson of the Dark Night. 

I have found many try to distract themselves and go into their addictions. Addictions can be anything from substance abuse, shopping, work, to sex or even serial dating, anything to distract the mind from the enduring discomfort with this process. If one loses a significant relationship, one may attempt to soothe the ego by fervently looking for a new person to fill the void. This can be construed as resistance to WHAT IS. Unfortunately, trying to fill the void with distractions is a trauma-based tactic that usually backfires.

Acceptance, surrender and release are necessary for growth from this time period. Understand that the Dark Night of the Soul will take us down whatever paths, stir whatever memories, and rid us of whatever aspects of our identity and society need to facilitate spiritual awakening to be reborn.

Grief is Tremendous, but Love is Bigger
This is a grieving process. You are grieving the loss of who you were, what life was, and the meaning you assigned to things like your career, your education, and your relationships. Socially we must accept the dying away of old constructs and mores that once gave us comfort, complacency, not because they served us well, but because they were familiar.

During the mourning period, treat yourself as you would a dear friend or loved one. If you need more sleep, less sleep, time alone, time with friends, more physical activity, less physical activity, as long as you are caring for yourself first with consideration, compassion, and love, honor your needs.

One of the lessons I learned from my Dark Night is how much time I spent allowing friends and loved ones to complain to me or to dump their problems when I wasn't prepared to receive this type of energy. My old self would jump into "fix-it" or "healer" mode, continuously enabling the others' dysfunction, and I realized I was teaching others how to treat me and, more importantly, why I allowed it. It wasn't their fault if I was not asserting appropriate boundaries. 

As I began to set limits with certain people in my life (caring for myself), I felt less drained and more empowered to be who I am, without apology, all the while remaining compassionate for myself and others. Some friends showed me who they were by leaving, when they didn't get what they wanted from me, any longer, and some friends showed me who they were by sticking by me and honoring my boundaries with love and care.

Boundaries with others is crucial, during the Dark Night because, although you cannot physically see it, your higher self is diligently working on your soul's accelerated healing. Believe me when I say, boundaries are an act of love, not only for yourself but for others who are not yet aware of themselves and their actions. 

Stay tuned for my article on Boundaries in the near future.

Meditation....The Language of the Spirit
This is the time to make space for the voice of Spirit and Your Higher Self, even if you designate 10 minutes every day to simply being still, observing your thoughts, sitting with your Spirit, and the wisdom of the higher consciousness. Allowing yourself to be lovingly embraced by the Universe not only provides guidance, but also serves as a comfort and solace from the turmoil you are experiencing during the Dark Night.

One of the things my higher self taught me, during my Dark Night, was to begin a mindfulness meditation practice, which I did. This practice was the antidote to leading me out of my dark night, which is why I added a mindfulness meditation to strengthen awareness coaching service to my business repertoire, to help clients navigate through their Dark Night of the Soul.

However, it is understood that this is not for everyone.  Sometimes just talking through the process will suffice, another service I offer at the end of this article. 

The Cure for the Pain is in the Pain
At times you may go day-to-day, hour-to-hour, and during the darkest times, moment-to-moment, but there is purpose in the pain and the social upheaval. I always tell my clients to stay the course and to allow whatever emotions and thoughts surface. Each trauma you uncover, aspect of your ego that dies, and uncomfortable reality you face takes you deeper into the dawn of awakening. Socially, this phase of storm and stress brings us closer to the all after the storm. When we are willing to go through the pain, rather than to go around it or above it, we find profound healing and we reveal deep spiritual truths.

I find this is a time when one may find the pain so unbearable, they resort to spiritual bypassing. When we bypass the pain of the spiritual lesson, the lesson comes in a bigger way later. Best to face it now.

The Greater the Storm, the Brighter the Rainbow
During the Dark Night of the Soul, there is panic, sadness, neediness, and turmoil because so much is lost. Individually, we may lose ourselves, socially, we can lose our way altogether. Yet, in reality, we are deprived of nothing significant in these temporary losses. Because of all that is lost, so many valuable things are gained. It is here when you realize how the Universe has had your back all along, even if you couldn't feel it.

From a higher perspective awakening within you, you relinquish your false sense of self. You know yourself to be a completely different person on the inside, which energetically radiates on the outside. It's like a cleansing of a deep-rooted sickness: your past perception of your true nature and your inadequate, often wrong opinion of who you think you are. As the inner conflict ceases, your spirit comes into alignment with your true self and you have been delivered of the intolerable bondage to your ego.

​As the sun rises on your Dark Night of the Soul, you will experience a freedom like you never have before, you will experience truth, awakening, and connection, which will radiate into the Universe. In a world where everyone who is called to realize their higher purpose through the Dark Night of the Soul achieves rebirth, society can come to know the unity, peace, and love our souls are destined for. Have faith that being committed and dedicated to healing yourself first is the most selfless gift you can give to the world. You are that powerful.

In love and truth,
Lori Lines

If you feel you are going through a Dark Night of the Soul and want support from someone who has authentically gone through it and now can offer real compassion and insights into your process, I am offering a 6, one hour session package for $600 (a savings of $300) to help you navigate through this process of awakening. Just contact me at higherselfaccess@gmail.com for more details. Find out more about my services at higherselfaccess.com

By Lori Lines

"Dark Night of the Soul" sounds ominous, doesn't it?  In many ways, it is, yet, like your first real heartbreak or significant failure, many believe it is a standard part of spiritual growth and development - a major growing pain as seekers on the road to higher consciousness will pass through this rite of passage, an initiation of sorts, before the seeker is admitted into a regular connection with higher consciousness.  

The Dark Night of the Soul is described by some as similar to mild depression or general sense of malaise.  You feel lost, stuck in a rut, wistful, and sleeping and eating are disrupted. Others describe it as a soul-crushing deeply depressed state, at times so profound people may believe they are truly dying.  Having gone through this journey myself, it felt deeper than a depression and most certainly, "soul-crushing."  To me, it felt as if my light had been extinguished and all hope was lost. 

Interestingly, we can undergo similar times of storms and stress socially.  During these times, life can feel bleak, the inequity and hate paints a dystopian society, and the current social structures lose their meaning.  The sense of meaninglessness is a feature of the dark night.  On the communal or personal level, nothing seems to make much sense, including life itself.

Many things can trigger a Dark Night, a loss, a death, a disaster, an injustice, an ego-assault, and an ego-death.  Socially or individually, it can come when we can no longer explain maladaptive systems and structures, dysfunctional perceptions and thought patterns, and low vibrational automatic behaviors.  By profoundly examining the frameworks of life, those that govern society, and those that shape our values become so askew that they collapse.

On a personal level, this collapse may cause you to lose touch with who you are.  This is called ego-death.  It is symptomatic of the Dark Night.  As your world loses meaning, so does your place in it.  You can't fit in as you had before.  You know on some level the reality of higher consciousness and yearn to be more deeply in communion with this part of yourself, yet you somehow can't fit in or feel at home in the company of those who you usually relate to, let alone yourself. The ego thrives on comparison and judgment, when existing measures are no longer sustainable, the ego's voice dies away.

This can lead to feeling lost.  During the Dark Night, the veil is lifted, and you begin to see what an illusion your old reality was.  It is here we find ourselves in a state of suspended animation with no 'new' reality to cling to.  At this stage, people often feel as though they live in a void of emptiness in which nothing is real.  Days, weeks, months and years can drone on and the part that's so difficult to accept is there's no finite time we can cling as to the duration of this experience.

Your motivation may plummet.  Work, education, success, esteem, and popularity no longer drives you.  Some people experience the need to rid themselves of material possessions, relationships, and pursuits that no longer fulfill them.  Initially, this cleansing may seem like just what you need.  In the end, it can trigger feelings of worthlessness.  Your ego may start to press you, "who are you without your things or your people?"

At some point during your Dark Night, memories and old traumas may rise to the surface.  From your current realm of emptiness, these flashbacks can elicit an intense emotional reaction.  In fact, everything you encounter may garner a more visceral response.  This results from the ego falling back, and the subconscious (higher self) taking the helm, reactivating parts of yourself that have been long denied and repressed.

As your subconscious awareness rises, you may feel like you are thinking with two brains. The subconscious mind sitting back with pen and paper jotting down notes as the conscious mind darts back and forth from one fearful thought to the next.  When you are aware of your thoughts, this state of higher consciousness can be unsettling, to say the least.  At worst, some people believe they are losing touch with their sanity.  But, in reality, one going through this process is gaining their sanity.

Another symptom of the subconscious taking the lead is the ego will wave a distress signal.  "I'm dying! SOS!"  Many who walk their path during the Dark Night of the Soul start to become profoundly aware of their mortality. This awareness can be so stark, some even believe it is they, themselves, who are dying, not the ego.

The Dark Night can be a lonely time of isolation regardless of who may be around you.  During this phase you must confront the fears and insecurities that emerge from the shadows.  At times people's sleep is dysregulated, causing one to sleep too much or not enough.  The same can happen with food and physical activity.

Similarly, when we experience a Dark Night in the social context, we can be afraid to challenge old detrimental perspectives and social mores.  Our daily foundations become dysregulated, and so can the unity we extend to all members of humanity.

So, why must we endure it, for some more than once, this long, dark, difficult night of suffering?  Because, as with most nights, when it is complete, we awaken.  Awaken into a higher state of consciousness, if we will just allow ourselves to do so.  In this transformed state of consciousness, we are set free to ascend to merge with our higher self.  

It is important to point out that not everyone goes through the above mentioned intensity of the Dark Night of the Soul.  But, if you are, understand that this is YOUR way. And, once on the other side of it, it is a rite of passage that should be honored, as you will be completely transformed.

This experience of being reborn is one of greater unity, love, peace and understanding of one's self and others on a very intimate level.  Yes, it is a very dark night, but the sunrise is breathtaking.

Stay tuned for Part 2.  The Night is What Makes the Dawn So Bright.

In love and truth,
​Lori Lines

PS: If you feel you are going through a Dark Night of the Soul and want support from someone who has authentically gone through it and now can offer real compassion and insights into your process, I am offering a 6, one hour session package for $600 (a savings of $300).  Just contact me at higherselfaccess@gmail.com for more details. Find out more about my services at www.higherselfaccess.com.

By Lori Lines

What an organ the brain is! All its wrinkles and folds, nuances and enigmas, powers and abilities, working in perfect alignment and synergy…until it doesn't! The brain can be separated into different lobes, functions, and systems. The primary distinction is that of the right and left brain. Sometimes referred to as brains, these two hemispheres are meant to work together, making up for what the other lacks. The left brain is responsible for logic, analytical thought, scientific and mathematical reasoning, and processing what we have been taught to believe is factual evidence.

The right brain processes holistic perceptions, creativity, imagination, art, music, and insightful reasoning. When the two hemispheres are balanced, together they give us a grounded perspective in which we can function in our day to day lives yet aspire, envision, and manifest a more fulfilling, high vibrational future.
 
Unfortunately, some people are out of balance, listening solely to their left brain. This can be referred to as literalism. Defined as "adherence to a meaning in an exact sense, or an exact representation or portrayal without idealization or inference." In simple terms, understanding and judging everything at "evidence or face value,"…but is it really evidential face value?

From an early age, based on our culture, society, and family values, we are all taught what to attend to, who to trust, how to perceive information, what is "fundamentally" true, and what is "fundamentally false." This is called social conditioning. Social conditioning is how we have been taught to function and think, somewhat like a default state for an electronic device.
 
When we rely solely on the left brain, or literalist perceptions, we limit ourselves, our consciousness, and our opportunities. We give our power away to social, religious, political constructs and people, we've idealized and over identified with, to determine what we see and how we see it. In this way, literalism is taking everything at face value or basing our perceptions on factual evidence. Instead, it conforms to what we have been socialized to believe is accurate, proven, and apparent. 

Spoiler Alert: Knowledge, grounded in literalism, always comes to a stop. There's nowhere else to go to expand on ideas to grow! Repressing our natural tendency to question, to think beyond what appears to be physically present, and to grow as the spiritual beings that we are, stifles our true expression.

In my opinion, this has been the crux of a trickle down effect and why our generation suffers from systemic depression and that people, collectively, are suffering the Dark Night of the Soul.

All that we perceive and experience is transient, except for the experiences that change our soul. The soul or spirit is the entity that exists and bridges us from one life to the next. It never dies. We explore the universal consciousness through our soul, commune with the higher consciousness, and reach the higher dimensions. Locked within the soul is a template of our life path, all that came before and will come after. Alignment with this map or template is how we self-actualize, awaken, and achieve enlightenment through connection to the universe and Spiritual consciousness. 

When we rely too heavily on the left brain's literalism, we tie ourselves too tightly to the physical realm's perceptions, experiences, and fleeting events. We lose touch with our higher selves, the universal unconscious, and the realm of the soul. Quickly we can become locked into the functioning of the day to day, observing the rules and regulations we have been conditioned to. A divide grows between who we are and who we are meant to be. We are not meant to follow, but to do the soul's work, honoring the template we come to this world with and the higher purpose we are destined to achieve.
 
As the division between who we are portraying and who we are meant to be, grows, life becomes challenging. We can lose our way, lose our sense of purpose, and life can lose all meaning. When we lose our "why," by habitually conforming to what we think we KNOW, we also lose our how and when.

There has never been a time where it is crucial for individuals to begin their self-actualizing, integrative process by whatever means is necessary than now.

Trusting the left brain too much can lead to not trusting ourselves at all! Our intuition and inner knowing repeatedly takes a backseat to what we have been conditioned to believe is right, even if it goes against what we want or what we feel. Like any other relationship, when we lose our own trust, it is difficult to regain it.

 This state of feeling conflicted towards the answers "out there" and having the answers within withheld can render us powerless. This powerlessness can lead to depression, anxiety, and general apathy towards the very life we are living. If you have experienced this or are experiencing it, you understand how difficult a cycle it can be to break. Yet, nothing can change within your spirit or in your outer world until you do the spiritual work it takes to amplify and hear your inner truth again. 

By bypassing social conditioning and the left brain's reasoning, the Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique can access the part of yourself that can hear and feel your inner knowing again. QHHT can help you reconnect with answers that you have lost along the way regarding your everyday life and your spiritual calling. QHHT accesses the higher self and the collective unconscious through your spirit, your everlasting nature, and eternal awareness, rendering the confines of social conditioning and literalism powerless. In turn, returning your mental, spiritual and emotional balance and restoring your power!

I have spoken to many of you who are afraid of the QHHT process, those of you who know, on a deeper level, that you've clung to your literalism for far too long and believe you would not be successful at this practice. My answer to this is my Mindfulness Meditation and Awareness Series of coaching sessions that can help prepare you for a QHHT session. Practicing mindfulness to strengthen awareness naturally opens up the mind to balance and trust in your inner knowing rather than just accepting evidential proof, "out there" that may or may not be true.

When you can once again perceive the bigger picture, you will start to realize how "small" your physical existence truly is. Through connection to your higher self and your countless lifetimes, you can once again appreciate how infinite your options and opportunities are. You can begin to realize yourself and your exponential gifts and visualize unlimited new ways of living, and it takes trusting yourself to do so.

In love and truth,
​Lori Lines

By Lori Lines

The late great Dolores Cannon used to ask her ailing clients, "are you willing to give up what is making you sick?"  She would ask this question in the wake of a QHHT® hypnosis session.  While this question may seem harsh to some, it's simplicity gives rise to our own empowerment as more of us awaken to our responsibility tending  to our thoughts, actions and emotions that block us and make our lives...well..."sick."

The majority of the people in the world are living mechanical lives based on social conditionings and false beliefs instilled in us since childhood and beyond.

Our inharmonious thoughts and feelings, our desires and our compulsive behaviors create major blocks which densify our bodies and lower our vibrational frequency so that we become vulnerable to the negativity (or our created negative energy) around us.  Consequently, individuals attract situations and people of similar energies based on the cosmic principle of "like attracts like."

Mental blocks are nothing but dark energies stagnated in our consciousness over long periods of time.  These blocks can unconsciously be held within parts of our bodies, too.  When we cling to our negativity and appropriate our woes and sadness, we unwittingly trap them into our subconscious being, where they gradually crystallize into mental, physical and emotional blocks that affect us adversely at all levels.  These blocks obstruct the divine flow of energy into our being and can shift us out of alignment with our Source, so that all our thoughts and emotions are tainted with pessimism.

Our conscious-awareness is a sentry that guards our thoughts and feelings from straying away from the Source Light of Love and Peace.  When some outside situation provokes us to anger, fear, hatred and the like, we must be aware of our emotions and our inner dialogue that expresses those emotions.  It's important for us to be in control of our emotions before they overwhelm us.  

How to take control?  Take a pause, watch your negative emotions as a passive spectator.  Acknowledge each emotion that comes up, with: I am feeling "anger"...or I am feeling "fear" and so on.  Observe your emotions without allowing them to ruffle your feelings.  Your quiet vigilance prevents the discordant emotions to take possession of your heart, mind, even your body, and keeps them under control.  Do not be tempted to resist and analyze them or reason with them, but simply be with them until they subdue and dissolve into stillness.

With the power of presence we can get rid ourselves of  mental/emotional blocks and choose to lead a wholesome life, free from the compulsions of our negative thoughts.

It's helpful to challenge our fears that pose as obstructions to our success and well-being, and dare to break free from our comfort zone for a more enterprising life.  Know that fears are illusory by nature, and appear real only as long as we give it our energy to dominate over us.  Fears enfeeble the mind and cripple the spirit.

Similarly, it helps to be conscious of our mental activity at any given time.  It is typical of the mind to drift off to its shady haunts of dismal memories, bringing with it the dark remnants of pain and sorrow which cloud our present moment of sunshine and happiness and steep us into our own misery.  Your conscious-awareness repels untoward thought, allowing only those which are in keeping with our health and well-being.

When you catch yourself drifting down the bleak memory-lane, stop your thoughts right dead in their tracks and immediately replace it with that which uplifts your spirit and evokes joy in your heart. If the thought hangs on, I affirm, "I nullify this thought so that it does not enter into my subjective mind." It is helpful to engage in constructive activities that are instrumental in increasing mental cheerfulness and better concentration.

Life is not meant to be taken so seriously.  If we learn to laugh in the face of our trials and tribulations, we can understand that hardships are merely the lessons of life that we need to go through for our own spiritual progress.  These are transient - here, one minute and gone the next.

If we refuse to internalize other people's aggressive behavior towards us, we rise to the understanding it is nothing personal - it is just their way of releasing their inner turmoil and pent-up frustrations.

So, go ahead and dare to laugh when ordeals compel you to cry; dare to love and forgive your enemies when they provoke you to anger and hatred; dare to be resilient when the blows of life bear down on you so that you are able to bounce back good and strong once they are through with you; dare to remain anchored in the Light of Peace when fears threaten to close in on you and jeopardize your happiness.

Shadows and sunshine are a part of one's spiritual journey.  You have to allow yourself to move on and enjoy the ride.  Keep moving onward and upward, and look forward to new changes that bring with them surprises and opportunities.

Cast burdens onto your Higher Power and live free like a child who is filled with hope and wonderment.  Find joys in the simple things in life.  A happy heart is a healthy heart.  Afflictions and maladies can cease to exist in a body that resonates with true peace and joy.

Though easier said than done, practicing presence and vigilance over our hearts and minds requires persistent effort and a sense of responsibility on our parts. It is a pre-requisite in order to gain mastery over self and to live by the power of our souls so that we become a source of attraction for Universal Peace, Abundance, Health, and Prosperity.

In love and truth,
​Lori Lines

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By Lori Lines

In our present-day society, we are modern people. Lately, due to governmental mandates, many of us  have had time to pause and reflect, whether we wanted to or not.  We realize we have become very used to being stimulated regularly.  Our minds are addicted to all kinds of buzz and frenzy.

Technology has only exacerbated this buzz as our minds hunger for more.  When faced with the notion to be in the present moment, this may make many recoil in panic.  In fact we expend a great deal of our money, our energy and our time doing our best to avoid boredom because, to some, this state of being commensurates death.

​Seriously!  Many of us can remember using phrases like "bored to death" and "bored stiff."  

Consider the vast expanse of entertainment, amusements and diversions that we create and indulge in just to keep from feeling bored. And yet, the complaint of boredom still exists.

I once read a story where, ages ago, there was this Zen trainee who complained to his master that he didn't enjoy meditation because he found the practice of focusing on his breath to be boring.  "Oh you don't find breathing interesting, huh?" Said the Zen master.  "Well, come with me."  The trainee followed the master outside stopping at a stream.  At the edge of the water, the master told his trainee to gaze at his reflection in the water.  As soon as the student bent over to look at his reflection, the Zen master thrust his head deep into the water and forcibly held it there as the poor student struggled not to drown. "Sooo," said the Zen master, "do you still find breathing boring?"

Most of us believe that our boredom is because of our outward circumstances.  We think the situation we find ourselves in is simply not interesting.  Those who practice presence, on the other hand, regard boredom as a product of inattention.  We get bored, in other words, when we withdraw our full awareness to whatever we are experiencing at the moment.

Boredom is not caused by what we perceive as not happening, it is caused by our own mind.  The cure for boredom is paying complete attention with focused awareness.   Rather than paying attention, though, most of us are inclined to seek out more mental and physical stimulation to keep our minds occupied with trivial matters that just take up useless space in our heads.

The meditative practice of presence encourages us to let go of the craving for stimulation and simply be attentive to what is, in the present moment.

To digress a moment, I recall a time when I was new at practicing presence. My, then, 8 year old daughter came to me complaining, "I'm bored!"  Instead of jumping into my usual response to engage her in something entertaining, I said to her, "Many brilliant ideas and works of art were created out of boredom."  Then, I left it at that.  Reluctantly, she decided to pull out her art supplies and, voila!, she created a masterpiece.  A work of art I will treasure for the rest of my life.

When I asked her what she learned about herself when she was bored, her 8 year old self  thoughtfully replied, "That I don't have to be bored when I'm bored."  Indeed.

When we discipline our minds, we can take something that we perceive to be boring and make it into something that's profoundly interesting.  Just as a submerged head can become fascinated with the breath, boredom, itself, can become interesting if we simply observe it without judgment.  

When we can let go of our fear of being bored and direct our full attention to our breath, one might be amazed at what discoveries can be made. One might notice the pleasant sensation that relaxed breathing brings to our body.  It may be very mild and barely perceptible, but it's there.  When we can be wholly engaged with the simple pleasure of breathing, we find ourselves with a refined sense of completeness in that moment.  All we need to know is the joy of the breath.  In that moment, we know that simply breathing is enough and we want nothing else.

The benefits of practicing presence are immeasurable. When we learn how to be in a state of presence, we develop our intuition, we get to know who we really are, and we find focus in our lives, just to name a few.

I offer 1:1 sessions coaching clients on how to practice presence in their everyday lives. If this sounds like something you would like to do, just let me know and we can discuss it.

In love and truth,

​Lori Lines

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