Now That I'm Spiritual, You Have To Be Too

Um, no. No you don't have to walk my path. That's the whole point, this is my path, and you have yours. Sometimes we walk together, and sometimes we don't. And that's just fine.  

I found a lovely group to connect with through the spirit guides class I took recently. Twyla, the teacher, put together a monthly group called Spiritual Happy Hour through the Meetup app. Awesome app, by the way, to find local like-minded souls in whatever it is you enjoy: yoga, meditation, business groups, and more. 

So last Friday was our first get together. We met up for happy hour at local spot called Barbaro. I ordered a Blanche Devereaux to drink, as I'm not just mystical, but also a rather passionate Golden Girls aficionado. The evening was as fun as I expected! We had good conversation including everything from crystals, past lives, current lives, our careers and more. One of the gentlemen I'll call "Sam," (since that was his name :) asked me and Twyla if our husbands were on board with our spirituality, or if there was a conflict. I've heard this conversation many times, and I have listened to people say how they were on a new path and now they couldn't relate to the people in their lives anymore. Some have left relationships or were considering it. 

When I first started really tuning in to spirit, I did have a time when I felt alone. But it was self-imposed. I thought I had to hide how I was feeling and what I was discovering. It was actually because I wasn't comfortable with it yet. It is very easy to project onto others what we are actually feeling about ourselves. After awhile I didn't care anymore and began to talk and write about it. I also started opening up about my small business and blog. I'm here to be myself not someone else, as we all are. There wasn't any earth-shattering stomping away of people I was close with. And there wasn't anyone that I felt compelled to run away from. Relationships do come and go, evolve and change, and through my heightened intuition, I am just more aware of the people that are truly kind and genuine. And I am also aware of my energy, and what I want to bring to others.

For a time I wanted everyone to hear about what I was learning, it was all so exciting (well, to me that is). Of course my conversations were welcome with others who listen to similar programs or read the same books and articles as me.  But not everyone is interested in everything that I am, even within the spiritual world there are thousands of paths.

Once I made peace with myself on what was important to me, and respected myself for what I believe in, it really didn't matter if anyone else felt the same way. For me to call myself spiritual and exclude someone who doesn't believe the same way, doesn't feel very spiritual to me. I don't need to prove what I believe in, and neither does anyone else. For me, spirituality is about BEING it, not preaching it. It is something I am working on, and my ultimate goal is just to be love.

So as far as judging others who don't walk my path, I don't. Instead, I choose to see what is really there, and it is more beautiful than can be found in a book or a course. As I told Sam, my husband doesn't need to practice spirituality, he IS it without trying. My husband looks up at the stars, the moon, a beautiful sunrise or sunset and says the most sincere and loving thank you for their daily gifts. That is BEING it. He speaks of this elderly woman he sees when he drives to pick up our son at school. He notices her getting off the bus a few blocks from our home every day in the blazing sun, walking to her home in our subdivision. He is contemplating how to help, if he can figure out a way to give her a ride, or buy her an umbrella to shade her. That is BEING it.

I will continue with my books, courses, learning, and groups because I love it and it's part of my path. But I will always be mindful to BE it and really SEE it in others. 

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern

www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Worthy: Boost Your Self-Worth to Grow Your Net Worth by Nancy Levin

My first introduction to Nancy Levin was four years ago when I attended my first ever Hay House event in Austin. The I Can Do It! event hosted dozens of Hay House authors. Nancy Levin was the Event Director and made us feel welcome, introduced speakers, spoke, and read her beautiful poetry. 

As time when on and she left her position as Event Director to fulfill her desire to be an author and life coach, I was thrilled to be able to continue listening to her on her own show on Hay House Radio (Thursdays 8AM PT). Nancy is the author of Writing For My Life… Reclaiming the Lost Pieces of Me, Jump … And Your Life Will Appear and her latest Worthy: Boost Your Self-Worth to Grow Your Net Worth. 

The title Worthy really jumped out at me because finances have been an issue since I was young. For some reason I felt like I never had enough. I always felt a sense of lack.  It was not about my family, but how I felt about my own personal abilities to spend and save. I have worked since I was 16 years old (and even younger with sporadic paper routes), but I could never really save or hold onto money. I was also always giving money away through overspending on others, even through adulthood. I felt like I could never give enough to others, even though I never expected the same reciprocation. I love learning about why we do the things we do, especially when we can improve something that has been to our detriment. What is really lurking behind self-destructive behavior? Through Worthy, I can now understand how a lack of self worth can be tied to how I have related in the world, especially with money.

This is a very hands on book. Many times we can read through a great book that has incredible wisdom, but as the book ends, so does our retention to what we have learned. Worthy has the wisdom along with lasting impact. Worthy reminds me of the quote: 

"I hear and I forget. 

I see and I remember. 

I do and I understand." 

- Confucius

There is so much to learn and do in this book, and I love it! There are beautiful stories of Nancy's real life experiences, her client's journeys, helpful resources, and wonderful affirmations at the end of each chapter. What I love most about the book is that we participate fully in it. This is not passive reading, it is something to get involved with to facilitate change and healing. There are many exercises to do that will open you up and reveal what is at the heart of your net worth. 

Through Nancy Levin's thoughtful questions, I learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. I understand when and why my negative thought patterns began, and have learned to let go of everything holding me back from improving my financial status. I learned about what really makes me happy and fulfilled. I have achieved goals already, with a clear direction towards more to fulfill. I have a firm sense of my worth.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, because you are all WORTHY!

Click through the links in the blog to go right to the author's site and books, or click below:
For more info & to order her book: Worthy: Boost Your Self-Worth To Grow Your Net Worth
Nancy's Levin's website: www.nancylevin.com

Follow Nancy Levin on social media: Facebook: @NancyLevinAuthor Instagram: @nancy_levinTwitter: @nancylevin
Nancy's books are also on our site in the Bookstore: www.suitablegifts.com/Bookstore.html

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern

www.suitablegifts.com

What Fills You Up?

I noticed an event post on Facebook for a spiritual store that I visit. They have some amazing classes such as singing bowl meditations, drum circles, mayan astrology, and numerology, but I had yet to attend one. They were having a Connect To Your Spirit Guides workshop this past Saturday, so I first clicked on "Interested" and then by Friday I fully committed to "Going."

The class was fun, and through the teaching of Twyla, we worked with crystals to feel their energy, did a guided meditation and also automatic writing to connect with our spirit guides. The guided meditation was beautiful, Twyla led us through a lovely grassy field and towards a park bench. Seated, we were to picture our guide coming towards us and sitting with us. Everything looked ethereal in my meditation, white, and mystical. I saw my guide coming towards me and I knew who it was. I recently did a 4-week spirit guides course, and through automatic writing, one of my teacher guides told me his name was "Father Time." That was who was coming towards me. He looked like a wizard, with the hat and robe, all in white and silver. Actually, he looked like the Winter Warlock from Rudolph. You know...

He sat with me and we held hands. I asked him his name. He told me "Frank." After he said that, the clock on the wall in the room started ticking loudly (Father Time). I asked him what he wanted to teach me, he said "wisdom." And the sound of the clock sounded again tic..tic..tic..

The meditation and the automatic writing moved some of the class to tears. It was at times emotional because some of the people who came were grieving lost loved ones. Some of them shared amazing stories of current connections to them, but they were still so sad. There is that longing for the physical even when miraculous moments are happening. One woman told a story of a dragonfly landing her nose. She said to the dragonfly "Joe (her husband) if that's you, come sit on my finger." It landed on her finger and stayed. Her sister sitting next to her confirmed the story. 

After class I had some errands to run. I went to a local shopping center and someone was holding out a sign for Family Christian Store for their going out of business sale. It wasn't on my list, but I decided to go in since I've been looking for a Mother Mary statue. I didn't find her, but when I was waiting on line, this was next to me. Not your typical name...

It was a day well spent. Something I really noticed afterwards was that I went from 10AM until 5PM without eating, and I wasn't hungry. I wasn't shaky or cranky either. That isn't typical for me. I certainly don't recommend going a day without eating, it just happened, and for the first time in forever, I wasn't thinking about food. As I continue on my up and down weight loss journey, I am learning what is going on emotionally with me, so I don't gain it back. On this day I learned that there are other things that can truly fill me up that aren't food. I didn't think that was possible. I had a happy day, learning about something that truly interested me. Learning about the light in all of us, the connections we have to the spiritual realm, and the connection every living being, creature, and plant has to each other feeds me. And they are all zero calories! I was full. 

I am in the middle of a new book right now too. Along with A Course In Miracles, I am reading A Course In Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson. It is teaching me to hand the weight loss goal over to God. I am doing certain activities every day towards that goal. It has been having a profound effect on me. My experience on Saturday showed me that keeping centered around activities that are spiritual and inspiring are where I need to be. This in-person experience was definitely something new for me, and it will be a door I will continue to walk through as I navigate my weight loss journey and my life. 

There are many "easy" go-tos, addictions, and ways to avoid stress and life such as excessive food, shopping, drama, and more, so I wanted to share this as food for thought! What fills you up? If it leans more on the negative or self-destructive side, I can say for certain that there are healthier ways to feed you such as reading, writing, art, walking in nature, taking a class, meditating, being with good friends, or just trying something totally new. Now get out there and feast!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulern
www.suitablegifts.com

I Am A Student Of A Course In Miracles

Well, that wasn't something I thought I would ever write, but it's true I am a student of A Course In Miracles. Through the recommendation of my good friend Estella, I purchased the book last year. It had been calling to me, but I wasn't quite ready to answer it. It is said to be a channeled book from Jesus. That alone would make someone go hmmmm. It's not that I don't believe in channeling, I have read enough and listened to enough to understand that it is possible, anything is possible. And throughout this spiritual journey I have kept my mind open. But Jesus? That's pretty big! Over 2.2 million copies have been sold worldwide since its publication in 1976, and a majority of the spiritual teachers I follow refer often to the Course, so there must be something to it. 

After holding on to the book for a few months without reading beyond the preface. I just wasn't sure how to use the Course. I felt a bit intimidated. There are three sections to it, the Text, the Manual for Teachers, and the Workbook. The Text has over 600 pages. the Workbook has 365 lessons. While pondering when I would actually start this, and if I would even be able to understand what I was doing, as usual, the answer came. Hollie Holden announced on her Facebook page that she was going to start the Presence of Love Study Group to study A Course In Miracles. I joined right away, and the first lesson was to begin January 1st. It has been a beautiful introduction to the course. Hollie is just so lovely and she gives a daily live lesson on Facebook. She's in the U.K., so I listen to her after the live broadcast, but it is still just as powerful. The group has grown to over 850, with members from all over the world. Any member of the group can post on the page for guidance and support, as well as leave messages of kindness and love. It is a safe place to bare your soul and not feel judged. The lessons can bring up quite a bit of feelings, so it is so helpful to have a supportive group who understands.

Today I am on Lesson 93. I read two pages of text a day, so I will complete that part by the end of the year along with the lessons. I spend 20-30 minutes listening to Hollie's lesson, another 15 minutes reading the text and lesson, and then 15-20 minutes of meditation. This may sound like so much time, but it isn't. I listen to Hollie's video lesson while I'm still in bed trying to wake up (sometimes at the gym when I'm riding the bicycle), I read while I'm drinking my morning coffee and eating breakfast, and I was already meditating every morning anyway. The lesson is also practiced throughout the day. Honestly, I do get busy, so the lesson isn't always practiced throughout the day! I do what I am able to, but the messages are still sinking in. I intend to follow this through for the year and see where it takes me. 

In the beginning I had ups and downs. I definitely had doubts about the whole idea of this. I moved away from organized religion because I didn't feel connected to it. I felt on the outside looking at something I could never be good enough, or perfect enough to feel welcome. Spirituality has felt more all inclusive. There were parts of the readings that have brought me back to that religious feeling. I felt like I was being told to follow this way, as it's the only way. I hadn't felt close to Jesus in a long time as well. I felt a block, a disconnect. I know I created it, but I'm not really sure why. I know it bothered me that I felt like religion was teaching me that the only way to God was through Jesus. I kept thinking, I can talk to Him any time I want to, I don't need to go through Jesus! It felt like another pressure that I had to do things a certain way or I couldn't be close to God. 

Heading into my fourth month of the Course. I feel differently, my heart is opening. I am feeling a change through this daily practice. The Course is a return to love, a return to God. It is an undoing of the destructive thoughts of the ego. It is about true forgiveness of oneself and others. It is the realization that our judgments are blocking us from true vision. Have you ever had this image in your mind of what someone was all about, then got to know them and realized you had made up a story in your mind? Apparently, that's what we are doing constantly. This new journey at times been challenging and fascinating. It has shown me that when I look at another, they are serving as a mirror. How I react to them is mirroring back something that I need to know about myself. When I am being judged, it is a reflection of the one doing the judging and vice versa when I am judging. The truth is, we are all One. Judgment, anger and hatred is not of love (God), it is of fear. 

There is no separation, even though it may appear that way. We are also all a part of God (or Source, Divine Mind, or whatever feels right to you). It can be hard to fathom this when there appears to be so much chaos, evil, narcissism, and hatred going on in the world. But I'm not speaking of the choices of a warped ego, I am speaking of the soul. We are a soul in human form, not a human with a soul. And God loves us unconditionally despite our perceived wrong doings. I know this may dredge up so much of how we have been treated poorly, abused, or judged. It definitely brought it all up to the surface for me. Through the lessons, I realized how much of my time was consumed with the same grievances for the same people or situations day after day after day. This Course is about forgiveness, and that probably is what really kept me from it. I am a work in progress, but the book is helping. What I can say at this point, is it feels much better to let go and forgive, than to hold on to anger and resentment. 

I am not at all suggesting to hang out with the person who harmed you. I am not saying to commend those in the world who do not have the kind and inclusive beliefs you do. If there is a part of you that can suspend the story you've been telling yourself about the other person (family member, friend, boss, political figure, etc.) and imagine that there is something deeper that you hadn't considered that caused them to be who they appear to be, would saying a prayer for their return to love be so hard to do? The thing is, not only can that silent blessing change them, it changes you. That is what it is for, to free you.

And how much do we judge ourselves? We are One, we are the same Divine souls that everyone else is. This prayer by a Benedictine nun sums it up quite perfectly: 

O God

help me to believe

the truth about myself-

no matter how beautiful it is!

Macrina Wiederkehr

Do you know how beautiful you are? Maybe it's time for a re-introduction to you.

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

2017 The Best Year Ever!

Why will 2017 be the best year ever? Because every year to me is the best year ever! It really is a matter of attitude, and how you choose to see things. I choose to be grateful and to see the unlimited potential in the year ahead. My mind is bursting with ideas of what I want to accomplish this year. I'm going to list them, but I will have no regrets if I can't get to them all. My mind seems to have a lot more energy than my body at times! And who knows what other opportunities and adventures will present themselves this year?

So here we go!

ACIM - I started January 1st with something I have been wanting to dive into for a long time. I finally ordered A Course In Miracles (ACIM), and Hollie Holden decided to start a Facebook group called Presence of Love Study Group to support anyone wanting to do the course together. It was a perfect opportunity, so I joined the group and am up to Lesson 3. It is so easy to do, and I so look forward to beginning every morning with this inspiring experience to return to love. If you are interested in learning more, join her page, you can start the course any time.

Learning - I am finishing up the the last two weeks of the Ask Your Guides course by Sonia Choquette. Oh my goodness, I can not wait to tell you all about it. I just had another incredible experience yesterday getting to know specific guides, their vibrations, names, and signs from them. It was just magic and proved to me undeniably that we are never alone! 

My next courses will be Unlock the Secret Messages of Your Body by Denise Linn, 21 Days To Glorious, Fabulous Abundance (it's a great course I started awhile back and will finish!) and Doreen Virtues Certified Realm Reader course. So much fun, I just love to learn!

Reading - I will also be reading quite a bit this year (as always!). I'm finishing up Nancy Levin's Worthy and Denise Linn's Past Lives Present Miracles. Great books, and I'll be blogging about them of course. I have a bookshelf filled with more to read too. I want to continue learning about spirituality, growth, abundance, and I love autobiographies also.

Healthy Weight - I am going to reach my goal weight in the summer. I've lost 17 1/2 pounds and am on the road to better health!

Exercise - I used to exercise quite a bit and got off track last year. I have already started incorporating this back into my day, and will be getting back to the gym too! Yoga will also be a big part of this.

Garden Sanctuary - it's been a challenge getting plants to grow in the Texas heat, but my goal this year is to really create a beautiful sanctuary in our yard.

Clutter Clearing - I have started this, but I will make sure I get through the entire house this year. It feels good to clear the stagnant energy and welcome the new! Let the Chi flow!

Joy & Fun - I will be spending more time in the present, being joyful, spending time with my family, friends and enjoying life!

Getting Me Outta Here - I plan to get out more during the week. I work from home, which means spending anywhere from 45-65 hours a week indoors. Whether I take my laptop to an internet cafe, actually take a lunch break and go for a walk in the park nearby, or do something outdoors after work, I will definitely be breaking up my routine. The weekends will include excursions as well. I started getting out more on the weekends last year and will continue this trend!

Sanctuary Everywhere! - I've learned about creating an altar, creating a sacred space. I have that in my bedroom, and I love it. I meditate and pray there and it's quite beautiful. I also created an abundance altar in my office, and I have some sacred items on another table. One corner of my couch is another meditation spot, and I feel a beautiful, relaxing presence there. My car has spiritual & religious items in it, and has become a sanctuary for prayer. I really want that sacred space to be everywhere around me, for everyone. So, my goal is to make our entire home (inside and out) sacred. What that means to me, is that is gives off a peaceful, loving, welcoming vibration. I want all those who live here, as well as those who enter, and those who leave our home to feel love.

Prayer/Meditation/Gratitude - These have been a life changer for me, and I will continue with them. I want to bump my meditation up to twice a day, and be more consistent with my gratitude journal. I also want to keep the dialogue always open with my spirit guides (so when you catch me talking to myself, that's why!).

Writing - Once I actually sit down to write, it's so easy, so second nature. I want to continue to write from the heart because I truly enjoy it, and I feel like it's one of the things I'm supposed to be doing in this lifetime.

Suitable Gifts - I plan to continue to learn, create more products, reach more people, and grow this business I love so much. Suitable Gifts is my way to spread love, kindness, peace and joy. I also have a cat site (I love cats!) which I will reveal later this year (website and products still need a bit of work and organizing). I plan to get out more in the public with more shows, and attract more attention to this business through publicity. I want to get my YouTube channel moving along (like posting my first video!), and either starting a newsletter or at least sending out some emails to my email list.

Kindness...Pass It On Mission - I have so many ideas for this as well. I would like to put together Kindness Kits this year for the homeless, seniors, kids in the hospital, and kids who are hungry (possibly through schools). I am looking forward to making the Kindness...Pass It On Mission grow to help more!

Abundance - I plan to create more abundance in my life not just financially, but in friendships, relationships, love, kindness, joy, time, and more!

Past Life Regression - Oh I am so interested in past lives! I already had two readings where I learned about several of my past lives, but I want to discover them for myself. I am reading Denise's past life book as mentioned above, as well as listening to several of Dr. Brian Weiss' past life regression audios. This will be a fun year of exploration, and I can't wait to see what I discover and resolve in my current life!

Art - This is one of the things I love, but get intimidated to do. I have a ton of art supplies ready, and I'm diving in again so I feel like the artist I used to. Here we go!

Travel Goals - I have been wanting to do some serious travel since I was in my 20's. I kept pushing it aside, but I am going to start setting some goals for the places I want to see: Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England, France, and so much more. There are so many spiritual sites I want to see: Assisi, Lourdes, Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), to name a few.

Wishing for you, all you desire for the New Year and even better! Expect this to be the best year ever and your thoughts (then actions) will create it! Share below what your plans are for the New Year!

*Click on any of highlighted words in the blog for the books, courses, and more information!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com