Ways to inspire heart centered living

Sound healing has become a passion of mine ever since I had  my first "sound bath" in Mount Shasta, CA. My cells and molecules felt like they were tingling afterwards and I was hooked.  Remember, our bodies are mostly water so sending vibrations into the field shifts things on many levels.  My aura felt crystal clear and I wanted to experience it again. I came home and began keeping an eye out for quartz crystal bowls. After doing some research, I purchased mine from The Om Shoppe in Sarasota, Florida.  I play them regularly in Experiences but also in the quiet of my home. They help me feel grounded and clearer. 

Intention + frequency = healing or transformation

Singing bowls are typically made of quartz crystal but they can also be made out of other crystals and minerals. The set that I am building is focused on the subtle bodies vs the main chakras. These include: High Heart (Thymus), Soul Star Chakra,  Om (Source), High Sacral and Zeal Chakra.  

The Om Shop has great articles that go more in-depth about sound healing but this quote from their website (www.theomshoppe.com) explains,  "Frequencies, notes and the chakra systems give us the tools to help ourselves break the old patterns, release negative core beliefs, and move into a space of living in unconditional love for ourselves and others." 

Automatic Writing is an amazing tool to connect with your heart.  We often want outside advice but you know who already has the deeper answers of the heart? You do! This is also a great way to begin to communicate with your spirit guides and helpers! 

My Tips for Automatic Writing 

1. Set the space. This is important, especially in the beginning. Pick a time of day when you will not be bothered. Light a candle or incense. We do this to disengage from whatever activity was going on beforehand. Once you have your space, either have your computer or notebook/pen ready. 

2. Center yourself. Begin by focusing your attention on your heart center. Use your imagination to see a brilliant light expanding and filling your entire body. See your all of your thoughts and emotions- bathed by this beautiful light.  If you struggle with this, try a different image. Imagine a wave of light or love filling you completely. Go with any visual that feels right for you. Use your imagination here!

 Visualize that light going up through the crown of your head into the Universe.  Take it high, beyond your imagination and connect in with The Divine (God, Source, Universe whatever feels right for you). Also send that light into the Earth. This allows a clear, grounded connection.   

3. Set Intention and Protection.  For me, these go hand in hand. Imagine a white light filling your field completely and forming a protective sphere or egg shape around you.  Set the intention for what you want to happen.  Are you writing to get in connection with the deeper self or are you looking for outside guidance?    Be as specific as possible. This could be my Catholic roots showing, but I doubt many of  us are inviting strangers off the street in for tea.  If you believe in Guides and Helpers then ask for help. It can be as simple as saying out loud, "Hey guys. Gina has me doing this crazy automatic writing thing, I can use a little help here."  

4. Breathe. Breath is the gateway to presence. So take a few minutes to feel your breath. If you can, breathe a little deeper on each inhale and exhale. This raises your vibration.   

5. Write.  For me, it  helps to write a question such as, "What does my soul want me to know today?"  or start it like a letter "Dear _____ (your name)"... Then write. Don't over think. Set the timer for 3-5 minutes and just fill the page as much as you can. Then when your done, re-read it. See if anything jumps out at you. Even if you don't think you see anything- hold on to it. Come back a day or two later and read it again. See if anything resonates.    

6. Suggestions: If you don't know where to start.  Common questions to ask, "What would be most useful for me to know today?" or "What area needs my attention?" or ask the deeper question of what is weighing on your heart. "I'm struggling with _________. Please give me advice."  Or for exploration, "What does my heart want? What do I want to create?"   Don't question what you write! This is important in the beginning. The logical mind will be jumping up and down and yelling at you during the process. Ignore it. Tell it to get in the backseat of the car and be quiet. Seriously. 

 7. Remember it's a PRACTICE.  In the beginning, I purchased a notebook and wrote in it almost daily. I can look back now and see the progress and how it evolved. Trust that if you feel nudged to do this then keep it up. Listen to your intuition.   Automatic writing can be invaluable.  It helps us become clear about where we want to go or what is most needed. It also helps dig deeper to figure out what's bothering us in a situation or relationship and how to proceed. It can open the door to clearer communicate with guides, angels, helpers, and loved ones.  

  Remember that your angelic teams are always supportive and loving. If the advice resonates, then honor it as your truth. Be grateful and say "Thank you" for any helpful information.  If it didn't work then ask to be shown a different way- a way that is perfect for you. 

Cacao is raw chocolate in its purest form- no sugar or additives.  In ancient times, the Aztecs and Mayans valued cacao and often held cacao ceremonies and used it in rituals. They also traded it as currency and it was worth as much as gold. 

Ceremonial cacao is not what we often find in the grocery store- even if it's labeled "cacao." True ceremonial cacao is  a different grade of  of "chocolate" and  most often in bar form.  The taste is deep and somewhat bitter. Most compare it to unsweetened dark chocolate or even black coffee. 

Cacao is a wonderful way to bring more ritual into your life. Cacao can have benefits on the physical body such as boosting serotonin and magnesium but always consult your doctor first as there are some contraindications for cacao. 

Cacao is often referred to as Plant Medicine but  I consider it an Energetic Plant Medicine.  The essence of cacao is  warm, grounding, and nurturing.   It opens the heart chakra in a gentle way, allowing for guidance and connection. 

The Spirit of Cacao reminds us to connect more deeply with our hearts. She offers space to quiet the mind and to listen for the gentle song of the soul.  

 The Color Outside the Lines Experiences  include cacao ceremony as part of our experiences. The COL website www.coloroutsidelife.com has a page of cacao resources and instructions for how to create your own cacao ceremony. You can find this under the tab, Cacao Love.   

 I've taken classes and sought out text books on cacao (I know, who else does that?) and although I can explain the effects of cacao on the brain chemistry, that is not what I want to focus on.  Sometimes, we get bogged down by the need for scientific data and that isn't the purpose of cacao ceremony. 

What draws me to cacao ceremony is the deep connection and magic that unfolds during that window of time! It is something intangible that many of us are looking for in day to day life. I often pair it with automatic writing or meditation for deeper connection.   I love sharing the heart opening energy and wisdom of cacao with others. 

My kids love to tease me about chanting and meditation. They'll sit cross legged and touch their thumb and index finger (i.e. Gyan Mudra) and say "Look Mom, Ommmm..." 

However, chanting and meditation are powerful tools that have been used for thousands of years. We are just now catching up with how beneficial these two things are.

Skeptical? There is growing research about trauma and the Vagus Nerve. Stimulating the Vagus nerve and help re-set the nervous system to return to Rest and Digest vs. Fight, Flight or Freeze Response. What can cause our systems to get stuck in Fight or Flight? Trauma or significant stressors can be the cause... you know, stressors like  a worldwide pandemic (I'm looking at you, 'Rona). So we can all benefit from resetting our nervous systems. Chanting, tapping and other energetic modalities  can help stimulate the Vagus nerve and calm the nervous system. Once the nervous system is in balance, we can begin to come into the heart center more easily. 

Meditation is also a good way to connect to our heart center.  People often say,  "I can't meditate" or "I can't clear my mind." Guess what, no one can!  That's an unrealistic expectation for anyone except for maybe a Zen Master (which I am not).  We will always have thoughts and that's OK!  Meditation teaches us to pay attention and simply observe them. The mind will wander off - the goal is to simply return to the present when it does. 

I'm a huge fan of the new meditation apps. Insight Timer is my favorite right now for guided meditations and relaxing music but I like several of them (10% Happier or Headspace). I find that guided meditations and music provide something to focus on. I've come to appreciate silence but that developed over time. 

Want to see change but not sure where to start? I would recommend Sharon Salzburg's Loving Kindness  Meditation.  You can find this on YouTube, Insight Timer, or check out her website to purchase meditations. Try this daily for at least 2 weeks and see if you notice any differences. It may seem simple, but this is a powerful practice!  

 If you really feel like trying something new, I'd suggest  a 40 day practice (Sadhana) of Kirtan Kriya, which is a Kundalini Yoga Meditation to  bring the psyche into balance and master the mind. https://youtu.be/t0viONOQUcY is a good video to guide you through the practice. Use your voice and the hand gestures- this is what makes it so powerful!  Kirtan Kriya has scientific research demonstrating the benefits of this practice AND it is even recommended for Alzheimer patients! (There's your fun fact for the day). The mantra represents the cycle of life. Here is what it means:

SAA: Infinity, beginning  TAA: Life, existence  NAA: Death, change, transformation  MAA: Rebirth

While I'm far from a crystal guru, I believe crystals can help balance the subtle energy body. Over the years, I've come to use them more and more in both my personal practice and with clients. There are so many resources on crystals that it can be overwhelming to beginners. I would start by selecting a crystal or stone that appeals to you. You'll naturally be drawn to what is needed. The stone or crystal can worn as jewelry, placed in your home/office office or kept in your pocket much like a worry-stone or talisman. 

 Not sure where to begin? Two stones I often recommend: Citrine for self esteem issues (solar plexus chakra) and Blue Lapis for speaking your truth  (the throat chakra). 

It is best practice to clear stones and crystals before you use them. They can pick up less than ideal energies so you may want to set them out in the sun for a few hours, place in water with a pinch of salt (only for select crystals/rocks), or smudge with sage. Once they are clear, hold them in your hand and set your intention. They will need to be cleared periodically as an energy reset and to keep their vibration high. I often request to clear client's crystal jewelry in sessions if I sense the energy has dulled. In today's busy world, it does not need to be done every week but it should be done periodically. If you can't remember the last time you cleared your stones (or if ever)- then now would be a good time to do so! 

Ideally, stones and crystals should be ethically sourced. The demand for these items has soared in the past years and this has lead to issues with over mining, child labor,  fair wage, etc. Personally, I do notice a difference in ethically sourced stones- the vibrations are simply higher. I can't say I get all my stones from ethically sourced shops, but I am selective. I pay attention to where I am purchasing crystals and who I am supporting.  Need an ethically sourced shop? Check out Moonrise Crystals in Hawaii at www.moonrisecrystals.com.  And if you need me to go personally to pick them up in Hawaii for you, I'm happy to do so... just kidding. 

Side Note:  I typically try to use good stores (with honest, kind, high vibration owners) except for, well,  this one time. I found a  beautiful Jasper heart  in a sketchy crystal store in CA... and I had to purchase the stone.  But I considered it more of a "crystal rescue"  just like a pet rescue :) so  I adopted the stone, brought it home and it still holds a special place in my heart. 

Side Note #2: Do not carry crystals in your carry-on bag for flights or you will be promptly stopped by airport security when they scan the bag! 

Haven't touched your yoga mat in years? No problem.  

This isn't about athletic yoga or the acrobatic yoga pictures we see on Instagram!  Who actually looks like that?  Not me!   I'm a very real and inflexible yogi.  My twin brother and I like to blame our inflexibility on bad genes :)  But I have learned firsthand the power of movement- on both the physical body and also to the energetic body. 

Our society encourages us to be aware of our physical body; but we also have an energetic body...some would even say an electrical body. Our bodies contain what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls Qi (energy) or you might hear terms like Prana, Life Force, or Chi. They essentially refer to the same thing- ENERGY.  And energy likes to move! Imagine an electric wire running electricity to your house. That energy needs to be able to move to reach its destination. If there is a kink or break in the wire, it won't get there. 

The energy body is the same way. If you have been sitting or largely immobile (and who isn't in today's lifestyle?) your energy slows and becomes stagnant. The result? We become tired, low energy, dull  and fatigued. That's when we often reach for caffeine or sugar to try to get us over the dip in energy. What we actually need almost feels counter-intuitive,  we need energy movement. 

I've never heard of a caffeine or sugar deficit (although my coffee addiction would argue otherwise). What lowers  Life Force Energy or QI is lack of movement, poor diet, or poor environment.  And unfortunately, the cookie or coffee isn't going to fix that. That's why we still feel depleted as soon as the short term fix wears off. 

And I don't mean go run a half marathon or even a 60 minute power yoga class, unless that's your thing.  I suggest simple, mindful movements for 15-30 minutes a day.  What is Mindful Movement? Stretching, Gentle Yoga, Qi Gong or Tai Chi would be examples.  Walking is also a great way to move energy.  I recommend adding some stretching before or after to really get the energy lines open. Pay attention to your body. Pause and listen. Stretching is not about going to our full limit. It is subtle and going to where you feel sensation not the end range of motion (that's going to lead to injury). 

If time is short, split into 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in evening. This would be a great daily self practice to re-set and balance your energy! 

A special note to those who may be injured, bedridden and unable to perform physical movement- use the power of your mind. Visualize your body performing the movements each day.  Use your senses and imagination to make this as real as possible. Believe it or not, your body and energy field will respond! 

Shamanism is one of the oldest spiritual practices and it is found in cultures all around the world. The world "Shaman" often means "one who sees in the dark" or" healer." 

Shamanic Journey is most often used to gain insight, guidance,  and information from the unseen world; the world beyond our physical eyes.  

Shamanism as a lifestyle stresses the importance of being in harmony and balance with oneself and with nature.  One does not need to be a Shaman to participate in a shamanic journey and many people are exploring how this practice can benefit them. 

Sandra Ingerman is one of (if not the) most well known Shamanic Teacher.  I've taken several of her courses and highly recommend them, if this topic interests you.  She provides a wonderful abstract on shamanism on her website that summarizes it far better than I can!  You can find it at: 

https://www.sandraingerman.com/abstract-on-shamanism/

Shamanic Journey is similar to a meditation, however, the participant is active in a journey.  Therefore one allows the journey to unfold by the power of imagination.  Imagination is vastly underrated in our culture! When a participant is in a journey, they use all of their senses to have an experience. Therefore, it is unique to the individual and that is what makes it so special. 

We utilize Shamanic Journeying as part of The Color Outside the Lines Experiences and participants love the opportunity to try this for themselves.