The Future is Looking Bright

We recently redesigned the entire web site and changed our Amethyst Moon motto from: Opening Hearts, Mind and Spirit to: Lift Your Spirits, Evolve Your Soul. This is the new direction we are moving in. Providing you happiness products and tools through our books, gifts, music, flower essences, self-study courses, and much more.
We also have a new blog: Amethyst Moon Connections where we will be talking to you more about the store’s offerings and provide tips and techniques towards raising your spirits and raising your happiness levels.
Did you know there is a science to happiness? Scientists have found several methods to determine how happy a person will be. And amazingly it’s not about winning the lottery!

However, having enough money to be comfortable with your lifestyle is a requirement for happiness. Too little money obviously causes stress and surprisingly enough too much money can do the same. This is why many lottery winners spend their money quickly and foolishly—they simply don’t know how to deal with the sudden influx of huge amounts of cash. Their comfort level is placed out of alignment and their stress levels rises. Often they will spend their money foolishly and ‘blow it’ on needless and expensive items, which then may be neglected or not used. A gradual accumulation of wealth is a preferred method in keeping your wealth intact.
The scientists also find that people, who have a belief system in something larger than themselves i.e. God or a Higher Power, are happier than people who are not spiritual or religious.

This is just two happiness factors. There is more which will be discussed in future blog posts at our new blog: Amethyst Moon Connections.

Speaking of happiness and comfort levels, I am happy to announce I am employed again…and summer is looking bright. I hope your summer is a great one!

Spiritual author and teacher, Blake Cahoon looks at life optimistically and wishes Chicago summers were longer. Learn more about being happy at www.AmethystMoon.com

The Process of Evolution

In one of my last blogs I talked about the need to reinvent myself. I had just been laid off from my job and just seen the movie “Julie and Julia” – which I still highly recommend.

But I want to rescind on the phrase ‘reinvent’, because I don’t need to reinvent myself – instead I must come to realize that I am evolving. I am evolving into a more fully-realized individual as I continue to go forth on my life’s journey and my spiritual journey.

This recession has been a very tough one for almost all of us – lawyers are being laid off and wondering if they will ever find a job again! I’ve lived through several more minor ones—several which I have been laid off from my job. I always find another one though.

And I am happy to report I have become employed again – actually with the same company, different department – and so now I have the security to know that regular income will be deposited in my bank account. My mortgage company and I are both happy about that.

How did this happen? Did I send out thousands of resumes? Did I pound on doors? Did I make lots of phone calls begging for a job?

No—I did not. I trusted that my work speaks for itself – I put forth a good product and service where ever I go. I am proud of my work. I know others know my work is of quality.

I am also nice to people and they are nice to me in return. We look out for each other. And help each other when ever we can.

So knowing I can produce and I am considered a nice person, I made some phone calls and did the obligatory looking for a job routine—but I also put an order into my angels and ask the universe to find me a job.

Then I didn’t panic. I didn’t worry. I knew something was cooking in the kitchen. I let the process play out. I let go and let the flow take shape. And the phone rang. And I became employed again with just the right job at the right price at the right time.

I didn’t need to reinvent myself after all – but I did need to realize that I was evolving.

There has been the day where I would worry, panic, call thousands of people and when I didn’t hear anything – I would panic even more.

But I have moved past that point – for the most part—after all, I am only human. And let the universe did its part after I did mine – I asked for help. And for me that was a big step in my life’s journey – asking for help.

Because sometimes we need a helping hand – from a friend or an angel. So thank you to all my friends you have helped me along the way and angels – a big thank you as always!

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Blake Cahoon is a natural energy healer, spiritual teacher and writer. She has written several books including "Connecting with Angels" and "Developing Your Psychic Abilities". Her main web site is: http://www.amethystmoon.com/

Inspiration to Re-Invent

At 52 years old, I have to re-invent myself—again! I just came back from the new movie, “Julia & Julie”—or is it “Julie & Julia”? It stars Meryl Streep as Julia Child, the popular and much satirized cook from the 1960s. I know my mother was familiar with her—my mother was a great cook. And we had the iconic copper pots and pans hanging in our kitchen.

The ability to really cook is something I truly lack—although Mother tried hard to teach me. I never had the patience or the desire. Yet I bought a house with a huge kitchen thinking that if I only had enough room, I would begin to learn how to cook. I’m sure I have the talent. I just don’t have the desire.

Our heroine in the movie, Julie Powell, who at age 30 has to reinvent herself, much the same way Julia Child did when she was 40 and newly married and living in France. Julia Powell is played by the ever delightful Amy Adams.

The movie was great and I highly recommend it to all – those who love France, those who love to cook, those who love Julia Child and those who love Amy Adams and most particularly those who need inspiration when it comes to their lives.

So why am I reinventing myself (again!)? Because I have once again been ‘let go’ or ‘laid off’ from my job. I was a computer analyst – I write the requirements for software developers to write code against and then I test the software that is developed to make sure it works. It isn’t a terribly hard job, at least not for me, but you do have to know about various computer systems and industry standards and regulations. But after a dozen or so systems and projects they all look and feel the same.

Apparently CEOs of America companies feel we computer analysts get paid too much to do this taxing job, for they have found a method to make their bottom line and wallets even fatter – ship our jobs overseas to India where the Indians get paid much less than we ever could live on here in America.

I won’t rant and rave over all of this exporting of jobs – I’ll save that for another blog. My point here is that once again I am looking for work and finding none in my field or very little. This specific Recession really is a dozy.

Well, thank God I can write. And not just this blog—I actually am published – my fantasy short stories were published by DAW Books in the late 1980’s. Has it really been that long? And I’ve self-published my non-fiction books, all five of them, more recently—just this year in fact.

And I enjoy writing and teaching – and helping people connect with their inner guidance system. So at least this time, I know what I want to do—a far cry from times before when I would lament on what I was going to do next with my life.

That’s the inspiration of this movie – explore your options and your choices – then do something about it. Go after your dreams, your wants, and your desires.

I will say that at least at my age, I’ve figured out that much. So at least I’ve learned something along the way. And hopefully the lessons going forward will be more fun and allow me to reinvent myself with a new flair and zest for life. I draw inspiration from the movie, “Julie & Julia”. Yes, that is the name of the film—I looked it up.

Go see this film—you too may draw inspiration from this merging of two stories. At the very least, you’ll want to go home and want to try your hand at something inspiring. Like maybe learning how to cook. Or write a blog.

Economic Hard Times for Light Workers

What is a light worker? This term was picked up in the 1990’s as a person who works in and around spiritual concepts as defined by the New Age. It is a person who strives for the highest good and reaches for the light of a higher power to illuminate life.

We define the term – light worker – so we can ask the question – in these tough economic times how can the light worker stay the course? How do they survive unemployment, down-sizing, layoffs and such? How do they manage to stay optimistic amidst ever increasing doom and gloom news stories that the media is putting forth and that their friends and family harp upon?

Speaking from personal experience, this is a tough assignment but one that can be accomplished by keeping the eye on the main objective and application of universal law principles. These principles are part of the light worker vernacular: law of attraction, law of karma, law of gratitude being just a few of these laws.

Each one can help the light worker stay the course with steadfast and optimistic objection for they realize the reality they create is their own and the universe operates under certain rules which they are aware of and can navigate through.

Once they remove the emotions out of the equation and realize that there are answers out there for them to gather and work with, the light worker can recognize their own path of potential which can lead to new adventures with even more rewards than the last several adventures.

The light worker has at their disposal an arsenal of ready helpers in the form of various high spirit guides, ascended masters and archangels and angels. The light worker must be ready to ask and receive these helpers’ assistance. So it is the asking of help, that may help begin to lift the light worker’s spirit and put them back on course, if indeed they falter.

Being reminded to ask for help and then acting upon that help once given, allows the light worker to get back on the path of illumination. Refocusing efforts and tasks allows the light worker to turn away from worries that block the energy flow and can stymie results that are manifesting as a result of putting in an earlier desire. Maintaining balance in both health and mental facilities helps the light worker maintain a steady course.

Over excess of worry, panic or otherwise emotions of dissent will only slow the progress of manifestation. The light worker teaches these principles to others – but the angels and guides will remind the teacher to adhere to these principles too.

Again shifting attention away from the subject of worry will allow the river of manifestation to continue to flow and not be stopped or otherwise misdirected.

Relaxation and enjoyment of life is imperative at this time – the light worker realizes that once the manifestation order has been placed with the universe, their job is simply to allow manifestation to happen as the universe does its job in processing the order.

The light worker has to remain vigilant in listening for clues and signals and outright command of actions, but otherwise a sense of accomplishment and relaxation will continue to allow the universe to merrily bubble on the stove of life until the meal is ready to be brought forth and served.

Acting upon signals and clues will allow the light worker to move along the predisposed path and acting upon commands will bring the task at hand faster. Patience may be needed as the universal pot boils. The phrase “A watched pot never boils,” is a good saying at this time.

Remember to have faith in the universe – it is on your side and the light worker knows this to be true – it has been on their side in many times before with equally productive results.

The light worker knows that time is a friend and not the enemy and faith will carry them through these times as well as times in the future, when needed.

This then is how the light worker strives to rise above the gloom and doom news of the day – knowing that they create their own reality and manifest their own destiny. Knowing that the naysayers and critics are there for contrast to allow the light worker to rise about the fray of the day and to allow the light worker to make better choices in an ever expanded banquet that is open to them in particular and to all in general.

Tough times don’t last --- these are a cycle of life and again the light worker is aware of this although a reminder from the angels and spiritual light worker team may be necessary.

With this knowledge and these tools, the light worker can go on and survive—and thrive in good times or in bad. Light workers work with Light and the light will always outshine the darkness.

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The preceding was channeled material from Demetrius - a chorus of loving and intelligent beings who mission is provide knowledge towards enlightenment.

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Blake Cahoon has been a light worker for over twenty years! Check her books out at: http://www.amethystmoon.com/ and learn more about light workers and Demetrius.

You Can Go Home Again

They say you can’t go home again…this is not true—you can and sometimes you should. But it won’t be the same—you can’t expect it to be the same; especially when forty years have passed as was the case when I went “home” again this summer.

For me Home was New York – where I was born (in New York City) and raised (in Rochester, NY) to the age of eleven.

My sister, who is three year younger than myself, and I went east this summer along our Heritage Trail – first to Cleveland, Ohio – where long dead relatives once lived and then onto Buffalo, NY or rather to Niagara Falls – where we had visited as young children. Apparently my father had filmed some new exhibit way back when; he was a film producer/director/editor – and wound up in Rochester, NY at Kodak –our next stop.

Here we roam the shopping plaza and apartment buildings of our youth with much aplomb and with many memories –some good and others not quite so good. We found our old elementary schools and found some changes, but not many. We found the woods we once played in and still found a heavily wooded path that we could still travel. That path wasn’t quite so wooded back forty years and it was probably easier to travel as children. Still we were both delighted that we managed explore the woods that meant so much to us.

We visited with the now much older parents of true best friends from our childhood.
We are now the age our parents were when they left Rochester. These folks knew us only as children – it must have been strange indeed for them to visit with us as adults. For me they now were wonderful people I could relate to as adults, as opposed to being simply the parents of my childhood best friend. They still have the playhouse that my father built for us – its been a tool shed in their backyard and it still stands—a testament to my father’s carpentry skills.

We also managed to visit the church we went to as children – and I found to my amused amazement the stained glass windows depicted not scenes of Jesus and the saints as so many mid-western churches to – but instead huge pictures of angels! These were the angels that guarded me as a child and which so influenced my life as an adult. No wonder I’m so into angels!!

We explored the huge Ellison Park, remembering lively times of snow sledding on its steep hills – they are still as steep as we remembered! This park meant much to us growing up and remains today still beautiful. We also managed to head up to our favorite amusement park on Lake Ontario—and found many of the same rides we loved as a child, including the ominous Jack Rabbit roller coaster—not quite so tall as I remember and the old merry-go-round with its colorful horses spinning to calipee music. Some things don’t change much with age – and for that we were grateful.

Next we headed towards New York City – Greenwich Village – where we both were born and I was raised during my first years of life. I don’t remember much of this time – although it was fun to see the brownstone I vaguely remember. And we went to the infamous ‘Beam Building’ otherwise known as the Empire State Building. On the rooftop of the brownstone, my father would point out the beam in the sky that issued forth from the Empire State Building – and I would marvel in delight. I have to say while the Empire State Building didn’t awe me as much as a child, I did marvel in delight at all the lights of Time Square – which television simply does not do justice.

I was also awed by the Statue of Liberty and loved the quaint little restaurants and elegant hotels of old that New York has; there is indeed an energy here which I could see could be addicting. But then people from Chicago say the same thing about their city too.

I was born in New York and raised in Rochester then moved to Central Florida (where New Yorkers were transplanting themselves). I once considered all these places my ‘home’. Now I live in the Chicago area – and have for close to fifteen years. Yet I don’t consider this area to be ‘home’ – or at least I didn’t until my summer trip to back east.

Home is where your heart is and where you lay your hat, figuratively speaking. I thought home for me was New York – but I found out that was simply where happy and not so happy memories lie. I lay down a few demons in this trip – and so now more happy memories than not remain for me. You can go home again—and all the past and present memories will remain intact—this I know for me is true.

I had fun on this trip, exploring new places and old. My memories served me well in traversing the past and I was glad I went. Once I was a New Yorker; but not so much any more. I don’t consider myself a mid-western either. My home is my sanctuary—a spot to lay my head and to contemplate the world while watching TV on my couch or for entertaining friends and family.

I have learned that it doesn’t matter where my home is…it is important to be present in my physical home where ever my heart is. And my heart and soul are travelers and explorers.

The old adage of you can’t go home again was wrong – you can and many a times, you should. It is a method of clearing the soul and setting the spirit on a new path. At least it was for me.

Picture: Blake Cahoon in front of her first elementary school where she first began talking to ghosts. Photo used by permission.
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Check out more spiritual growth products from Blake Cahoon at www.AmethystMoon.com

Denying Passage

Denial – it’s not just a river in Egypt. Okay, so it’s an old joke but one that’s appropriate for this column. For about a year ago I entered the stage that all women go through, but because One: I don’t like to acknowledge my age and Two: I wasn’t ever given any real information about this stage of life from my mother or female elders; I was basically clueless. What am I talking about? The secret that no one really tells you about or even talks about: menopause.

This stage starts usually in the early fifties for a woman, although years before symptoms can occur. Symptoms listed on the web are vague but include weight gain, hot flashes, and depression among many others. So when certain symptoms started to show up in my life that surrounded mood swings and sudden bouts of weakness, I chalked it up to other aspects of my life.

It wasn’t until I went through a whole battery of medical tests and racked up several good sized medical bills – and yes that is with insurance – that I came to the happy diagnosis myself – it was menopause that was causing most of my problems!

I have to thank several of my female friends who have passed through this passage of life already and who help clue me in. But this passage is a very complex and unique process—I don’t have the same symptoms as any other woman – although we may be in the same vicinity of the ball park. Notice I said vicinity of the park not even in the park! This is what makes this stage and all of its many symptoms so difficult to diagnose.

And I went to several doctors – did I mention medical bills-- with no real results. But I wasn’t going to the right doctor – which is a gynecologist. Who will be my next stop on this roller coaster ride. I don’t particularly like roller coasters – they make me nauseas. Another possible symptom by the way. Notice I said possible – you may have some, all or none! Geez!

So here’s a clue for you --- if you’re heading towards or at the age of fifty or fifty plus – make sure you consult with your gynecologist. I prefer a female one because I am convinced a man cannot have a clue about all that happens to us during this time. Also head to the library or bookstore and check out books on menopause. A few good ones include ones by Christiane Northup, MD and Gail Sheehy, author of "The Silent Passage."

‘Cause your girlfriends will regale you with their own personal tales of woe, but their woe may not be your woe. And as far as the Internet is concerned – forget it. Their listed symptoms are way too general to figure out what is truly happening to you.

Don’t be a river in Egypt – it’s going to happen sooner or later and with knowledge comes preparation and strength. And the good news is –or so I’ve heard – once it’s over – you feel great – again! I’ll let you know when I get there – I’m still in the middle of river! But at least now I know which direction to swim!

How to Handle Adversity

It is said that what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. Certainly the people who have lost their homes and farms in the great Midwestern floods of spring 2008 will learn if this statement is true for them.

There was a sign outside a church that read “Adversity causes man to be introduced to himself.” When I first read this, I was confused. But the more I thought about this statement, it reminded me of the statement of what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.

When adversity comes into our lives, it is because we need to learn a lesson from the challenges that being presented to us or it is a method for us to see what we are really made of. Pressure makes diamonds and so adversity makes the human.

That is what this planet is all about – contrast. It is the presence of the good and the bad and our reaction to either that makes us humans beings – emphasis on being. We can choose to react with fear, with strength, with anger, with sadness or with love to almost any event in our lives.

We all learned a powerful lesson on September 11, 2001. Or most of us did; some did not, while others have let time diminish those lessons. And so now more adversity is upon us. It is what shapes and defines us, as we react to that adversity.

So when adversity comes into your life – watch how you react to it. What is the outcome you desire? How is your reaction and actions going to result into your desires?

I recently was laid off from my job in a time where more and more people are losing their jobs. I could have panicked. But I remained calm and began sending out my resume and going on interviews. I knew I would get another job and it would be the right job for me at the right time. I received a call for an in person interview on the Monday following my last day at my old position. The interview was on Tuesday. I got the offer call for the job on Wednesday. I would start the week following the next week—allowing me a vacation—something I had wanted and let the Universe know that I wanted.

I wasn’t sure it was the best job for me—until I got to the new job. I was traveling a little more than I wanted, but found a free web site that let me download hour long interviews and burn them to CD. Now I would have something to listen to on my drive—again something I had asked the Universe for. Also I was being compensated more now than my last position – out of special circumstances – so ultimately I received a raise. Plus the people were very nice – and the work itself was interesting, another couple of something’s I had asked for and received. My final sign that I was where I was supposed to be was my request for a nearby post office. I found the post office was a block away and with hours that spanned from early morning to evening. Okay, I said with a smile to the heavens above. Now I knew I was in the right place.

I could have panicked when my last position came to an end. But I didn’t. I remained calm and faithful that the Universe (or God—or whatever one calls that something Bigger than the rest of us—because I know It does exist) –would provide in my hour of adversity.

While I didn’t get flooded out like so many others, or burned out from the wildfires that are now burning in the west, I had lost my job – I did have adversity in my life. How I chose to react to that adversity, I feel was how the outcome manifested itself. As a result I grew stronger in my faith and in being confident that the Universe will provide for me in all circumstances, especially when I ask.

What adverse events are popping up in your life? How are you reacting to that adversity? What are you manifesting? Ask yourself these questions the next time adversity comes knocking on your door. Big or small, the universe will help – if and when you let it. May all your adversities be small ones!

Blake Cahoon runs a few web sites: AmethystMoon.com, LightEarthEnergies.com, is a writer and a film maker. She is a spiritual teacher and produces material to live a better life.

Butterfly Stirs Creative Soul

Many years ago I was sitting in a park one summer day on a hillside that overlooked a small lake, contemplating what to do next in my life. I was in my thirties at the time and I still hadn’t figured out what I wanted to do when I grew up. (And quite honestly I’m still trying to figure that out!).

I found myself going over some options in my head – at the time I was a writer for a small family owned company which had holdings in lots of businesses, including real estate and motivational work. I really enjoyed that job – I was able to create freely on many different projects, including writing motivational material, press releases, newsletters, marketing materials, children’s books and video scripts for late night ad-commercials. Alas the business changed direction and I was wanting for another job—yet again.

I find myself in that position again these days – a scary thought being unemployed with a mortgage and small kitties to feed, but yet exciting not knowing exactly what is ahead. A sense of anticipation rests in the air, as I put out feelers for new positions and think about the time when I won’t have to work for someone else.

I’m not sure that time is now – right now I personally don’t see that happening yet – unless I choose to play the lottery and win –but I am putting the thought out into the universe so at least the possibility of opportunity can arise.

I ask my angels and faerie folk to manifest my desires – to work in a place of comfort, freedom and safety, with positive energy and a good support system, doing something creative that I feel excited about and make excellent money at, performing or creating something worthwhile. Oh, and put a rush on that order – I have less than thirty days to find such an opportunity!

Note I said opportunity – not job, not even career – but rather an opportunity to be someone I enjoy being and being around, and making enough money to support myself comfortably at the same time.

So that is my desire—out it goes into the universe—while images of me sitting on a long ago hillside linger in mind. And there was a butterfly that day – one with colorful wings – whose flight was lazy and peaceful. Butterflies are signs of change – new beginnings – metamorphosis.

And that day is again today….and with the thought of butterflies comes the thought of a small video that my father’s spirit brought to me that same year – I had the inclination to pick up a video camera and put together a documentary on butterflies. I’m not sure why.
To this day, I am uncertain exactly why – but I’m sure that it was my father’s spirit who came to me and told me also that butterflies are signs of hope – for new beginnings are full of hope. And so today as again I contemplate my future – I am thinking of butterflies—of new beginnings, of hope and of….video creation….hmmm….where is that video camera of mine? I have an idea….my creative soul stirs and angels and faeries whisper to me and new ideas take hold.

The road ahead still remains a mystery, but I know my angelic support system is also out there pounding the pavement with me….may your journey stay as exciting and full of promise as mine…

…and stay tuned!

PS: Our new website is now posted: http://www.lightearthenergies.com/