Full Moon Lunar Eclipse of June 26

Last Saturday night you may have looked up and seen the full moon. Depending on where you were and when you were out, you may have gotten lucky, as photographer Brad Riza did when he snapped this image.

Eclipses, by definition, mark a loss of light - or power, prominence, or even significance. The source of illumination is lost. Sometimes that loss is temporary. But sometimes that loss is permanent. You may find yourself in a situation today that is markedly different from where you were last week at this time. It's much like you have crossed a bridge, only to turn and discover the bridge has disappeared behind you and you can't get back to where you were.

The good news is that you have grown. You can't ungrow and you can't go back. So look around at where you are now and make the best of it. Focus on the solutions instead of the problem. Take baby steps, but take steps.

Weekend after next there will be a solar eclipse. They always come in pairs. First the earth gets between the sun and the moon, dropping the earth's shadow onto the lunar surface. Then the moon gets between the sun and the earth.

NEVER look at the sun during an eclipse. Here's how you can safely watch the eclipse. Get two business cards. Poke a hole in one business card with a straight pin. Turn your back to the sun so it shines over your shoulder. Hold the business card with the hole over the card without the hole and about 6 inches apart. You'll see the circle of light shining through the hole of the top card slowly get sliced away as the moon moves between the sun and earth.

These eclipses will come again at the Winter Solstice in December. Whatever happened to you during these eclipses will echo into what is to come. I encourage you to journal now and refer back later. In this way you'll discover how eclipses affect you and be prepared for future events. There are generally two or three pairs of eclipses per year.

Summer Solstice: Bright Light and Clear Sight

On June 21st, the day of the summer solstice, we'll enjoy over 14 hours of day light. This is the peak of the fiery energy that comes from our sun. This is the season of the Red Phoenix. This is the time of year to pay attention to your own light and how it is perceived by others in your world.

Each of us has a personal light that shines forth from us. While we may not consciously think about it, we are fully aware that we give off light-sometimes even more than others. Look at the words in these common phrases that indicate our awareness of the light we emit: "The bride is radiant," "His smile lit up the room," "She is beaming with pride," "You're brilliant," "He's a star," and many others. Even the Bible cautions us not to "hide our light under a bushel basket."

This is the season to shine. The quality of your light shining out is manifested in your reputation. Make sure your reputation is shining steady and strong. Run an integrity check: do you actively keep your word, avoid making promises you can't keep, and follow through on any responsibility you have accepted? Along with the light comes the ability to be seen. Make sure you are seen as the star in your galaxy, rather than the darkness.

The secondary benefit of light is sight. Vision is enabled by light. Make sure you are able to see what is coming at you through both space and time. Get your eyes examined. Polish your glasses. Trim your bangs. While you're at it, trim up any tree branches lower than 8 feet off the ground and trim back any bushes taller than 4 feet. Wash your windows (not in direct sunlight) and make sure all the light bulbs in your house and office work.

Get out your resolutions from last January. See where you are along your list of goals. You may want to revise some of those resolutions now. Celebrate the ones you have already accomplished. Extend your vision another year down the road and write some new goals to guide the rest of the year. You'll check on those in about six months - at the Winter Solstice - the time for deep reflection. Be sure to give yourself something to warm up those chilly winter days. Meanwhile, happy summer everyone!!

Tis the Season for Gift Giving - Give the Best Gift of All

GIVE THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING!
As May begins to unfold we begin the summer gift-giving season with Mother's Day. With friends and family graduating or getting married, the gift-giving begins to multiply. This wonderful time of love and acknowledgement culminates with Father's Day in June.

Here's a gift idea that everyone will enjoy: give those you love a copy of Living HeartWise and put techniques in their hands which ensure emotional and mental health and well-being. The book holds empowering belief blasters and paradigm-shifting information that will forever alter everything. They will rediscover all the great reasons to love themselves and enjoy in amazement how awesome they truly are. Your family and friends will thank you for the most thoughtful gift of all. Their hearts, minds, and spirits will thank you too.

The book is available on amazon.com and at www.livingheartwise.com.

Celebrate the Green

Today is my feast day - the celebration of St. Patrick's Day celebrates those named Patricia too. You are all invited to join me in the wearing of the green. Interestingly enough, this morning I noticed one of our trees has budded out and the lawn is greener than it was last week. Spring's energy is rising through the last days of Winter and we all feel the impending thrill of something starting. The more green replaces the brown, the more we are energized by the sun's rays (hemispheres and seasons are appropriately interchangeable here).

Green is the color that resonates with your heart chakra. A chakra is an invisible but very powerful spinning wheel of energy. You have seven major chakras in your body, each correlating to a color of the rainbow. What are you starting this Spring? Is your heart thrilled about it? Find ways to celebrate your new ideas. Just as your parents cheered and clapped as you took your first baby steps, cheer and applaud your own efforts in any new venture. Tell your family and friends about your efforts and goals. Their celebration adds to yours just as their energy adds to yours. By combining their support with your own focus, your goals and projects manifest with ease, just like tiny seedlings break through pavement and reach for the sky as they send down their roots.

If you are one who is much more familiar with the darkness and depression, I invite you to take a step today towards sitting in the sunshine of your life. Open your heart and let the sun shine in. Most of all, let your own light shine out. The whole world will be a brighter place with you shining in it! Celebrate the green and celebrate your heart.

10 Tips to Help Others Make Healthier Food Choices

When you watch your loved ones suffer because of their choices, you naturally want to help them make better choices. But that is not an option. Unless your loved one is younger 12, they have already developed their sense of will and know how to make their choices, regardless of what you prefer they choose.

It's a hard lesson for us to realize we can't force our children to change their bad habits, but it's even harder for our children to talk their parents about of their own bad habits. In fact, we can't decide for our spouses, friends, family, neighbors or anyone—except ourselves. We can't decide what others should or shouldn't eat, just like we can't chew their lunch for them. But there are ways we can help others make healthier choices—by making alternatives FUN!

• Share various and unusual fresh fruits and vegetables
• Invite them to dinner at your place
• Don't wear or use food-scented products (think jasmine, not cherry; pine, not lemon)
• Bring a heart-healthy dish to share to their place or to work
• Offer water with a slice of citrus instead of sweet tea
• Invite them to go swimming, bowling, bike-riding, or even walking with you
• Ask them to walk your dog with you
• Take dance lessons together or just go dancing on a regular basis
• Park far from the front door whenever you ride together
• Thank them for helping you to eat healthier or joining you in your activities

Remember to praise them for every step they take in the right direction for better food choices. Never, ever talk about or even think about what they're doing that you consider to be "wrong." Complement them on the roses in their cheeks, the way their clothes fit differently, or just hug them and tell them you love them. Just like no one responds well to nagging, everyone responds brilliantly to bragging!

Two Questions That Can Change Your LIfe

My good friend Liz Plaster of (Positive Performance LP here in Houston) just sent me this link in an email. Knowing how wise Liz is, I followed the link to see what was up.

At vimeo.com I was treated to a quick view into the mind of one of today's bright young minds. I was amazed at how perceptive Daniel Pink is. He is the author of DRIVE, The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and A Whole New Mind. From his video here I saw a great depth of thought and awareness that most don't develop until after 45. I will definitely be picking up Daniel Pink's books to add to my library.

I watched the 2 minute video. It was short, sweet, and smart. As you realize the answer to the first question the path for its accomplishment immediately becomes clear. The answer to the second keeps your awareness on the distance you travel down your path every day. The choice for distance is up to you.

For those who don't take the time to answer these questions, the future is hazy and uncertain. Get clear on what you want. The Universe is waiting to take your order. What'll it be?

Living HeartWise on Amazon.com

You can now preview my book, Living HeartWise, at amazon.com. Check out the Look Inside link and savor a small sample of what's inside.

I did discover as I played with the Look Inside feature that each time I clicked on "Surprise Me" I got a new sample. It was like lots of presents at my birthday party. I encourage you to check out this new book. It was written for you, your children, and their children. You have reason to raise the red flags of concern for your own health and theirs. Please - listen to your heart. Check out this book.