Life happens. Since I last posted, I’ve gone to work for a great company called Medtronic. I still have my hypnosis practice, but, as many small business people are discovering, the pace has slowed. Besides, it’s really time for me to be thinking about retirement and savings. Not that I ever think I will, but it’s still good to plan.

Which brings me to the topic of discussion today. Animal Guides.

I’ve written about them before. Getting in touch with your animal guides is a great way to discover unexplored aspects of yourself, in my opinion. In my own case, I spent the past year exploring the possibilities of doing freelance writing from home in addition to my work as a hypnotist.  It was a great year for sun tans, since I would walk my dogs in the mornings. But I definitely wasn’t saving any money for the future and no health bennies either.

As my savings and peace of mind began to dwindle, one of my students did a hypnosis session for me to get guidance from my higher self. A shark showed up in the session. Hmmh, I thought. Sharks don’t typically represent anything GOOD, in our culture.

So we got out my trusty Ted Andrews’ reference books on animal totems (Animal Speak and Animal Wise.)  Lo and behold! Sharks teach us how to keep swimming in difficult times. SHARKS DON’T FLOAT.

Wow! As always, that message was exactly what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear it. I took the job offer at Medtronic and have been happily swimming along ever since.

Dogs as totems (see photo of my girl, Prissy) generally indicate a need for loyalty and companionship. Research the specific breed for more details. For example, a Jack Russell may mean you’re being too aggressive or not aggressive enough.

To discover your own current animal guide(s), take yourself on an imaginary walk through the forest, come around a bend in the road. What animal do you see coming towards you? What message do they have for you? Then go look them up in Ted’s books for more information.

We look forward to our continuing relationship for many years to come. Please RSVP to Kathy at 210-663-0658

Relax and let go of Holiday Stress with us, on the House.

if you’re coming between 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm on Thursday, December 8th, so we’ll know how many cookies to bring!!

Wishing you a SAFE and HAPPY Holiday Season and MUCH prosperity in the New Year.

1.Chris Park– I’ve written about this little City Jewel before.  The park was developed and dedicated by the late art patron and Pace Picante Sauce heiress, Linda Pace, to her son, Chris. The tiny, secluded little park is located on Camp Street south of downtown and filled with amazing plant life. It also has concrete benches inscribed with notes from Chris’ diary. The benches are perfect for sitting and communing.

2. King William River Walk- Another favorite spot for it’s beauty and seclusion is the King William segment of the San Antonio River Walk. Like Chris Park, it’s still one of the best kept secrets in our beautiful city. Smiley, Prissy (my dogs), Uncle Ernie and me usually cavort around the Steve’s Homestead and Pioneer Flour Mills area since there are nice stone bences and fences to sit on in the shade. Even when it was 115 degrees this summer, it was tranquil and cool in King William.

3.  Blue Star Art Complex- Honestly, I think the most beautiful part of the River Walk improvement project is the bridge that goes under Alamo Street and back towards King William. It’s currently the longest stretch on the river where the bridge is suspended into the water with nothing else around it. Under the bridge, there is a section where water comes out of little spouts in the wall and trickles through water plants. There are rocks to sit on and plenty of shade from the bridge. You can even cool your feet in the trickle.

4. San Antonio Botanical Gardens- The Botanical Gardens is one of the few places on my list that is not free, but it is well worth the $8 admission.

This 33-acre living museum, one can enjoy colorful seasonal floral displays, a serene native forest walk, exotic plant specimens from around the world, modernistic glass pyramids, and even an authentic log cabin. All these spots would make excellent meditation locations:

the Old Fashioned Perennial Garden, Rose Garden, Sacred Garden, Garden for the Blind, Kuamoto En (an authentic Japanese Garden), the futuristic Lucile Halsell Conservatory with its Aquatic Garden Pool and plants from around the world featured in the Exhibit Room, Desert Pavilion, Tropical Forest Room, Palm House and Fern Grotto. I even like sitting by the little cabins in the xeriscaping exhibit.

5.Hemisfair Plaza- Another great place, but I’m not sure for how much longer, is the area underneath the Tower of the Americas. I like the artwork on the side of the Henry B. Gonzalez Center that faces the Tower. There are fountains there and places to sit, although it’s not shady. And, I love to sit on benches and look at the fountains beneath the Tower. They are truly mesmerizing. In fact, I used one of them for my anti-anxiety session on Youtube.

Try these out and let me know what you think.

This post is somewhat out of character for my typical ones, but something that I (and most Americans, actually most humans) are becoming increasingly passionate about of late, that is the **%%$ state of the world economy.

My friend Joyce sent me this email. Joyce is one of those friends who doesn’t send many of these, so when she does, I listen. Please forward the link if it makes sense to you.

Like they said in the movie: Sometimes you have to take a stand.

I feel passionately enough about this prospect to ask that you read

and forward this. Why, because I personally feel so powerless and

the country is stuck. Don’t worry, it does not follow any party or tax

the wealthy.

Warren Buffet has something here that ignites the tiniest hope

that we are supposedly a democratic nation and should have the power …

In a recent interview with CNBC, he offered one of the
best quotes about the debt ceiling:

“I could end the deficit in 5 minutes,” he told CNBC. “You just
pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more
than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible
for re-election”.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds)
took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified!� Why? Simple!
The people demanded it. That was in 1971 – before computers, e-mail,
cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year
or less to become the law of the land – all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this E-mail to
a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask
each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will
have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed
around.

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they’re out of office.

2 Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this
contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving
in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will
only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive
the message.� Don’t you think it’s time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

P.S. — Warren Buffet is my hero.

With our current economic situation, many people (self included) are working extra jobs. If you find yourself in this scenario, try doing something that is not your normal cup of tea. If you are a numbers person, try doing something more creative. If you typically have a desk job, try doing something more physical.

If you don’t need the extra cash, try taking a class or joining a club that is out of your normal realm of experience. New and different experiences actually create new neural pathways in the brain and increase your creativity. Even just visiting with someone whose way of thinking is very different than your own can be a mind expanding experience.

Who knows, you might even promote world peace.

In honor of the holidays, I think you should, too.

Even if all you have time for is to sit some place quietly for 15 minutes and soak up the sunshine or feel the breeze, DO IT!

A long time ago, I realized that not all clients would take the time to listen to a hypnosis CD, even if I told them they could put it on at night when they went to bed.
BUT, most will stop a few times per day to breathe deeply and imagine blue water, or an orange sunset or the feel of sand under their feet.

Giving yourself a mental break is like re-booting your computer. You’ll find it’s just easier to cope.

I have a sound machine in my office. I am usually playing the ocean waves or the rain forest. With the ocean sounds, I imagine I’m lying on the beach and the waves are washing over me and washing away all the mental cobwebs.

In the rain forest, my animal guides come from around a bend in the path to bring me inspiration. One day a monkey comes up and starts laughing at me, to remind me to lighten up and not take myself so seriously. Another day a shark tells me to “just keep swimming” in order to survive the current economic times. (Sharks don’t float.)

Come up with a mini-relaxation program that works for you. Use it for a week and notice the difference in your energy level.

Hypnosis is not a substitute for dietary improvement or exercise. However, my clients and students have reported that using the program has made it much easier for them to stay on track with their weight loss goals. They have also told me that the program has helped them in other areas of their lives, such as improving sleep, dealing with difficult relationships, accomplishing other goals and increasing overall self esteem.

The premise of Living Lightly is that, when you “lighten up” and let go of worrying and obsessing and simply focus on being happy and healthy, weight loss follows. Once a client or student tells me that they are feeling “lighter” and “less weighed down by life,” I know they are on the road to shedding pounds. I have actually seen clients lose up to 12 pounds in one week. However, an average of 2 pounds per week is the norm.

Living Lightly is not a fad or a craze. It is built on solid principals of eating real food, exercising safely and having FUN while you’re doing it! If this program has helped you in the past, please share it with someone who might like it as well. If you are hearing about Living Lightly for the first time and want to know more, feel free to contact me. If you do not live in the San Antonio area, you can still take advantage of Living Lightly for Home Use.

Class Agenda:

Beginning Tuesday at 6 p.m. on October 18th, I will be offering the Living Lightly Weight Loss Series. Class size at the Citadel Plaza location is limited to 6 individuals.  You may register online by visiting this website link.

Sign up for one class for $35 or sign up for all six and save $30.  CDs can be purchased separately for $20 each or buy two and get the third free. Each class includes lecture/discussion on the topic of the day and a 45-minute hypnosis session.   Classes are first-come first-served, so pay in advance to ensure your spot in class.

The agenda is as follows:  Class #1: Tuesday October 18th: “Lighten Up”– Simple behavior changes to increase your likelihood for success, including letting go of emotional eating.  Reduce portion size, drink more water and make healthier food choices.

Class #2:  Tuesday October 25th, 6 PM “Exercise Motivation”– Find and stick with your own ideal exercise plan. Desire to exercise is increased with hypnosis. I teach you to “future pace”, which is to imagine what your body will be like one month, six months, a year into the future after exercising consistently.

Class #3:  Tuesday November 1, 6 PM “Eliminating Cravings”– I will be  discussing the reasons for cravings, with emphasis on the roles that sugar addiction, carbohydrate sensitivity and Candida play. You are then lead on a hypnotic journey to identify your own bad foods to eliminate or good foods to increase. Hypnosis helps you let go of the bad foods and embrace the good ones.

Class #4:  Tuesday November 8th, 6 PM “Detoxifying the Body”–  I will teach you some methods for detoxifying the body of unhealthy substances, like old undigested foods, that actually keep you from losing weight. Detox is a great way to restimulate weight loss if you hit a plateau. Methods for detoxing every organ system will be discussed. My favorite class! 
Class #5:  Tuesday November 15th, 6 PM “BE a S.T.A.R.”–   Use the power of visualization to achieve and maintain your ideal weight. We examine the role that ‘negative body image has on deterring weight loss efforts. Write your own affirmations and create your own image board to counteract the negative programming that may go all the way back to childhood.

Class #6:  Tuesday November 22nd, 6 PM “Wrap Up Problem Solving.”–    Still having problems in some areas of your weight loss program? This is the class for resolving any leftover issues.  I will discuss each student’s issues individually and provide suggestions and hypnotic techniques for coping with each.

If you have a group of five or six and would like to set up a different time or different number of classes, please contact me to discuss options.  I am also available to teach Living Lightly Offsite and would love to do so as part of a wellness program.

Gurus throughout the ages have promoted “living in the present moment” as the secret to joyful living, an idea gaining considerable appeal in light of the current level of angst. In fact, the Buddha said, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” That sage advice may be easier said than done.  However, two Dallas-area retreat planners have taken up the gauntlet and are launching Essential Excursions, a series of self-discovery retreats, set to premiere in Boerne, Texas, at Namaste retreat center, November 18 – 20, 2011.

“Throughout our own journeys and successes in finding contentment and purpose, we realized that we needed to design this type of program and share it with others,” said Andrea Roberts, a wife and mother of two who is working on a Masters in Counseling at SMU.  Roberts’ partner in this effort is Ange Fitzgerald, a freelance photographer with a background in project management and event production.  The pair found that, while there are many retreats available for intensive therapy, meditation, yoga, and spirituality, there was a noticeable void of getaway programs centered on impactful and practical ideas that are easy to adopt.

Roberts added that the retreat incorporates what she refers to as “sustainable tools,” resources that easily shift ways of thinking and adopting new habits that will stay with participants for the rest of their lives. The weekend retreat will include time for participants to slow down and listen to their own inner dialog and learn simple ways to be more kind to themselves, she said. Other activities include learning to tap into gratitude and focus on the good in life; discovering ways to eliminate self-sabotage by reducing consumption of unhealthy media, food and material possessions; determining ways to simplify their lives and focus on essentials and tapping into their creativity to uncover life insights. The three-day program costs $350 for individuals or $675 for couples. Meals are included.

“Self discovery is important,” Roberts explains, because “if we don’t find meaning and purpose in our lives, we go in and out of a state of restlessness that can cause negative outcomes such as stress, anxiety, depression and bad decision-making. Once we find what it is that we are meant to be doing, and nurture it, we can relax and patiently begin the journey of that adventure.”

Namaste Retreat Center is the perfect location to launch the self-discovery retreats, in Roberts’ opinion, because the grounds are spacious and beautiful. Located just north of San Antonio and two miles from Boerne, Namaste Retreat Center overlooks the natural bluffs carved out by Cibolo Creek. The site’s healing amenities include a 1500- square- foot deck, large covered porch, hot tub, salt water pool, Zen garden, labyrinth and Reflexology path. Roberts added that she was specifically looking for a location offering natural beauty, secluded space for journaling or meditating, and therapeutic amenities. Namaste owner Becky Zook said the center will accommodate up to 30 visitors and has hosted a wide range of groups, including Habitat for Humanity International, several state agencies, life coaches and yoga practitioners.

To find out more about Essential Excursion’s self-discovery retreat, email them at: essentialexcursions@yahoo.com, or register for the event online at: http://essentialexcursions.wordpress.com/schedule-and-registration/.

To learn more about Namaste Retreat Center, visit the website at: http://www.namasteretreat.com/default.htm or call Becky Zook at 830.385.2333.

Lately, I’ve seen lots of folks in my hypnosis practice who start the dialogue with, “I just can’t stand to go to work anymore!” In many cases, the problem is burnout. In my experience, burnout doesn’t happen when you are doing something that makes you feel joyously alive. And, believe me, there is a big difference between doing something you like and doing something you LOVE!

When you love what you do, the hours just fly by, and you actually feel more energized from work, not drained. I’ve been in both boats, and have been doing something I’m passionate about for 12 years now. I never feel like I’ve learned all I can learn. In fact, each client is a new experience.

You don’t necessarily have to quit your current job and move in with your parents to start a business, like I did. In fact in this economic climate, I wouldn’t advise it, and I’m a born risk-taker.  But, if there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, start out doing it as a hobby.

What’s stopping you? Make a list of your excuses for not doing the thing that brings you joy, and then pretend like you are solving the problem for someone else. For years, I used the excuse of not having enough money to start a biz. And then I realized how much money I had in retirement and made the leap. I’ve never regretted that decision.

Not sure what would bring you joy?

I’ll save that discussion for the next topic.

I try to always write on a topic that I am personally experiencing and today’s thought is about opening to allow the Universe (or God or the Force or whatever you want to call it) to work for you. One of my favorite Oprah quotes is one where she suggests people “just get out of their own way and get into the flow of their lives.” That has been a hard lesson for me as well. I know, based on my upbringing, that somewhere in the back of my mind I’m running some programs that go something like this:

Oh, God is just so busy helping people who really are suffering. I can take care of this myself. I don’t want to impose.

And then there’s the lesson I got from my dad: Always look out for #1. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will.

Don’t get me wrong, my dad was and still is my hero. It’s taken me a long time and many messages through many intuitive friends to GET that there are hoards of angels and other helpers out there who will lighten your load if you just let them.

And when you do, you open to the true potential the Universe has in store for you. For example, being an entrepreneur, cash flow is ALWAYS an issue. But now, when I catch myself start to worry about money, I stop and say a little prayer to my angels and other “ethereal money managers” who surround me, “Okay, gang, I’m open to receive more money.” Last week when I did this, I had totally unexpected cash flow from three sources I could not even imagine or know about, all within eight hours of asking.

Whatever the issue is that is presenting itself to you RIGHT NOW, consider it a life lesson and try opening yourself to Universal Consciousness and Universal Good. Let me know what magically happens in your life.

If you haven’t read anything about Master Class, but want to, visit this link:

http://www.oprah.com/own-master-class-the-lessons/master-class-open-to-the-unexpected.html