October's Breath of Fresh Air from Akasha.....

Hi everyone,

Welcome to October’s Breath of Fresh Air and if this is your first issue, double welcome. 

Well, if you’re in the UK, there’s no escaping the fact that the nights are drawing in, autumn is here and winter is coming!  Now you could groan at this point and say “thanks a lot, that’s really cheered me up” or you could consider what this time of year represents.  This is the time when nature becomes still and many animals hibernate to recharge their batteries in readiness for a new burst of Springtime energy.

Unfortunately, not many of us have the opportunity to “hibernate” because we’re too busy working and getting on with our lives.   However, no matter how busy you are, it is very important to stop occasionally and take stock of where you are in your life, what you’re doing, where you’re going and, if you’re not as happy as you’d like, how you can change it. 

Some people leave that until the New Year, but I say why wait until then because come the new year, wouldn’t it be good to have some new thoughts and direction in place?   This has been really highlighted for me this month when a client offered to lend me a book she thought I’d enjoy.  I hesitated because I have a number of books to read, but an inner prompt said “borrow it!”   I am so glad I did.  It is one of the most inspiring books I have read in a long time. 

Written by Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, “Left to Tell” describes how she knew that she would survive, despite all but one brother being butchered along with over one million other Rwandans, and despite spending 91 days with seven other women, huddled silently in a bathroom no bigger than our downstairs toilet (I know because I measured it!)

To survive she did two things.  One she turned to her faith and prayed and two, she visualised.  And it’s the second of these that forms this month’s feature “Visualise to Materialise”.  Enjoy.  

Here’s an overview for this issue.

Feature:  Visualise to Materialise

Directly in front of my desk I have this saying by Colin Sisson’s “What we vividly imagine, ardently desire, enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass”.  Another saying I like is “Visions become realities”.  This was certainly the case for me this month.

On the return flight from Canada, I left my CD case on the plane.  I called British Airways and said how important these particular CD’s were and that I’d really like to get them back.  I got the distinct impression that they thought it wasn’t going to happen and a few friends also said “you can kiss those goodbye”.

However, I decided that they would come back and I started visualising.  In my mind’s eye, I saw myself holding the CD case in my hand, unzipping it, taking out one of my favourite CD’s and placing it in the CD player.  What I also did, was feel how I would feel when I did this by actually role-playing it with an imaginary case.   I did it every day, sometimes several times a day.   As nothing had been handed in at lost property, I also sat on British Airways to track the plane’s next destination, check their lost property and find out whether the weekly “deep clean”  had taken place.
  
After two weeks, as I’m sure you guessed, I got them back.  (The absolute bonus was that we happened to be at a conference near Heathrow, thereby avoiding a 2 hour drive to collect them.)  Now some might say that I was just lucky, but I truly believe that the visualisation process played a big part in the outcome.

So I started to think about the components of the visualisation and realised there were five:  

1. Intention.   I had a very clear intention and kept repeating to myself “My CD’s are coming back to me”
2. Clarity.       I saw them clearly back in my hand
3. Focus.        I stayed totally focused on them coming back and didn’t allow myself to consider that they wouldn’t
4. Belief.        I totally believed that they would come back
5. Feelings.    I felt the “Yes, result!” factor at the physical level

Of course, visualisation isn’t new and one of the books that kick-started me using the process was Shakti Gawain’s “Creative Visualisation” way back in 1978.   However, it is always good to have confirmation of how powerful it truly is.

When I share this technique with my clients, a number often say that they can’t see clear pictures when they shut their eyes.  So what I ask them to do with their eyes closed is imagine that starting from the front door, they are guiding someone round their home and describing the different rooms and what’s in them.  It always works.  Some people don’t see clear photo images but they do usually have a sense or feeling about it – try it out and see what works for you. 

So ask yourself this “what could you be “visualising” for your future?”  A new job, change of house, a better relationship, or perhaps just yourself feeling happier and more content. Whatever it is, START NOW!  As my grandmother used to say “Why put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.”

Ask yourself this:

Here's a reminder of some of the earlier questions

* Am I happy with my life? 
* Where am I going?
* What is my purpose?

If you'd like help in getting clearer with any of these questions, then sign up to receive our FREE mini-course "7 Proven Steps to Create a Better Life."  Go to: www.theblissofbeing.com/7_Proven_Steps_to_Create_a_Better_Life.html

Because we like them……

We decided that each month we would include a few links to other sites, either because we know the people concerned and think they are great or we were inspired by the site and wanted to share it with you. This months selection is inspired by Immaculees book. By the way, these are not affiliate links and no money is received for including them.

http://amnesty.textdriven.com/home/index_darfur.php?lang=en

This is an amnesty site specifically relating to the horrors in the Sudan (another Rwanda happening now).  It asks that you "Send a UN Peacekeeper" by signing their petition.  Name and email address is all that is needed.  Thank you to Becky for sending me this.

www.amnesty.org

Amnesty is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognised Human Rights.

www.charityclicknow.com

This is a new innovative company with the sole aim of providing fundraising initiatives for charity.  From their site you can click to a charity of your choice and donate.  An excellent alternate Xmas gift idea (more next month)

***NEW PROGRAM FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006***

* Does the idea of a simple but effective way to deal with the pressures of life sound good?

* Would you like to manage your thoughts more positively?

* Do you want more "sparkle" in your life?

* Have you tried meditation on your own but it's not really worked?

Then in 6 hours over 3 weeks, Akasha and John will share their 18 years meditating experience with you and teach you a simple, but highly effective and lasting meditation technique.  There's even a BONUS of a FREE follow up in January to see how you've been getting on and get a top up.

Full details at: http://www.empoweringpartnership.com/personal/Meditation.aspx

Really useful information….

Did you know that more than 65% of the population don't have a will? So if you are one of them, here is your chance to help yourself, your loved ones and also a charity.  Throughout November some solicitors are offering to draw up a will (joint or single) and instead of you paying them, you make a donation to charity.  This is the link: http://www.willaid.org.uk/index_public.cfm

My thanks to Syrah Arnold for this information www.syrahjade.com

If you have some really useful information that you’d like us to share with other readers in the forthcoming issues, email me at:
akasha@empoweringpartnership.com   and of course, we’ll attribute the information to you.

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Full details of all the programs and services we offer can be viewed at  www.empoweringpartnership.com.

Until November, John and I wish you a month lived with passion and on purpose.

Akasha

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