All doors open now  for happy surprises and the Divine Plan of my life is speeded up under grace.

I love this affirmation and wanted to share it with you all. To me this affirmation just makes you smile when you say it.

Say or write this affirmation 40 times every morning before you start your day and 40 times every night before going to sleep. You can say it as a mantra as you meditate or as you are going about your day. Affirmations work wonders in our lives and really help us focus on the good in a general way which opens up all channels for our good to come to us in Divine ways.

Try it or any affirmation that “connects” with you or one that gives you a positive charge for one month every day as perscribed above and watch the good that comes flowing into your life.

This particular affirmation is from Florence Scovel Shinn, who was a pioneer of motivational thinking and an inspirational writer of her time.

Many Blessings,

Cheri

Quite a few lottery winners have said that their winning numbers came to them in a dream; that when they awoke from the dream they jotted down the numbers that were dancing in their heads, played them, and then won.  Some say that their numbers paid off right away while others said they had to play for years before the pay off.

In September 2006 a woman named Mary Wollens purchased a quick pick ticket then she had a dream regarding those numbers on her quick pick. In her dream also with those numbers was a check for a large sum.  When she awoke she felt that she needed to play those numbers again and went on and purchased a second ticket for the same game with the same numbers.

Lo and behold a few days later she won the lottery but someone else had the correct numbers picked.  Normally, the winners would have split the winnings but because of her dream and leading her to buy the second ticket she got to claim two thirds of the winnings. She to $16 million dollars of a     $ 24 million dollar jackpot. The other winner got $8.0 million.

Some of you may have read this story at some time or another or perhaps received it by email.  I checked out the validity of the story on Snopes and it is true.

Just goes to show that having a pen/pencil and dream journal handy at your bedside to record your dreams sure can payoff! In this case, the pay off  was AMAZING!

Many Blessings,

Cheri

 Spirits communicate with us most easily while in meditation and most often in our dreams. It is fairly common and easy to communicate with our dearly departed ones as often as we would like to.  While we are in the dream state our conscious mind is more open and allowing of the communication. If someone you love has recently departed and you are not recalling a dream about them, don’t be discouraged. They are visiting you only you are not remembering because when someone we love has died recently the memories are very raw and painful and so you will not remember the visits until a time when you have healed and grieving is not so intense.  Some people that I have loved that have passed on communicate with me in my dreams right away, some later on after a period of time.

Years ago, while in meditation, I had a spirit show up that I didn’t know. At first, I thought I was wrong and tried to ignore him. He persisted. He was very strong  impressing my mind with his face and invading my meditation. I finally asked who he was and he told me his name was Chris. I then sketched a likeness of him in my journal. I had no idea who this guy was or why he was coming to me – he just kept saying his name. During this time, I was teaching a dream class in Houston and this night of my class it was pouring rain along with thundering and lightning.  Quite a storm. The receptionist at the center where the class was held called me and asked me if I was coming  and she asked “Please, don’t cancel your class there is a couple that are insistent on coming and are driving from Galveston.” I told her that I had no intention on cancelling the class that there were already 10 others confirmed. Once I got to the center everyone but the couple were there in the room. We waited a few minutes for the couple to show but they were running late so I decided to go ahead and start.

About 15 minutes into the class the couple from Galveston arrived and took their seats. We were in a casual setting and I was describing the different types of dreams. As soon as this couple sat down, my “friend” Chris appeared next to me. He was so excited and kept saying to me  “That’s my mom and dad! “ over and over like an excited little boy in a candy store. I remember, telling him to calm down (in my mind) I don’t want to appear crazy, by talking to a guy only I am seeing – this is a dream class not a medium class!  At this point, the dad asked me “How do you know when you dream of someone who is dead if it is a visit from that person or just a memory dream?” I was beginning to get the picture now. Everyone else was very interested in this answer and so I told them my experience of visitation dreams and what I knew. Keep in mind all this time this spirit is jumping up and down next to me and talking so excitedly but I really didn’t not feel comfortable blurting out across the room. Plus, I am almost losing my train of thought on teaching the class because having someone else talking in your head is very irritating to say the least!  In the end, after class was over the couple walked out. My spirit “friend” Chris was jumping up and down to make contact with them. I told him “Okay,!” at the risk of looking like a lunatic this better be your parents!!

 I stopped the couple outside and told them the whole story of my meditation and a young man in his mid twenties who has come to me. I described what he looked like. Both the woman and the man started to tell me that their son had been murdered. I stopped them before they went any further and told them what he looked like and they confirmed with tears that was their son. I told him he is here and he has been communicating with me for two weeks and that he was here now. They had been desperately seeking many ways to contact him. He had come to them in dreams but weren’t sure if it was really him or not.  I told them that  many times while in the midst of our grief of losing a loved one we are not certain of what is a visit and what is a memory created by our own sub-conscious.

This subject of visitation dreams of the dead runs deep but here are a few common traits of a visitation dream:

* a very real, clear, feeling, focused dream, REALity feeling of the visit.
* lack of symbolism as in an ordinary dream – very little of a story or plot
* Strong emotions: love, forgiveness, or peacefulness sometimes but not often anger or fear from the spirit
* A touch or hug – physical contact, a reaching out to you
* Often, the spirit looks happy, younger, more healthy or vibrant than when they passed.
* Knowing..you have the feeling, certainty that it was the person…”I just KNOW it was him/her”
* Sometimes you can feel their presence on near where you are sleeping

Many Blessings,

Cheri

Vampires are real and they can suck the life force from you! Toxic people or Emotional vampires are very real and we deal with them pretty much through out our entire lives in various ways. Most of us know at least one and many of us know and deal with them daily. Like traditional vampires who come out in the dark, emotional vampires feed on the dark side of people. Like attracts like and when your energy is at their level they will feed off of you until they are so fat and happy with negative glee and leave you lying there all strung out, defenseless and depleted of all energy. Sometimes, they can even have such control over you that you become one of them. Be careful, very careful.

Who are they and where do they live?

They can be family members, co-workers, bosses, neighbors, friends, customers/clients and therefore they too can live with you, work with you, hangout with you and do business with you.

In my own life I have experienced many of these vampires and have learned how to avoid them or deal with them in ways that leave me in a better place. I have dealt with the boss vampire, a co-worker vampire, client/customer vampire, several so called friend vampires and a family vampire (which for my own safety will not discuss here!) I hope to help you identify vampires in your life and give you positive suggestions and spiritual solutions in dealing with them. I want to point out here, that it took me a lot of lessons to finally accept that these people really do exist. I have given so many people the benefit of the doubt, or made excuses for them etc., that finally after many tough experiences and soul searching I have learned they do. I thought for a long time that my so called friends and family could never do that because I would never do that to them. That being, steal my boyfriends, abandon me in times of need, belittle me, compete with me, steal from me, cheat on me, hurt me physically and emotionally, crush my dreams, control me and the list went on.  The lessons I have learned is that not everyone has our best interest at heart and that we are the one’s that are responsible for us and our happiness and well being. If we take care of us then we can take care of others from the best mental, emotional, physical and spiritual center of our being. When we stop looking to others for love and approval and look to ourselves and God for it, these toxic people stop showing up to teach us these lessons.

How do you feel?

One of the easiest and most important ways to know for sure that you are dealing with an emotional vampire/toxic person is to notice how you feel when you are with them, before you are about to see them or after they have left.  Emotional vampires will cause you to feel and or be anxious, stressed, tired, angry, depleted, shamed, stifled, shame, suspicious, un-equal and fearful.  Negative feelings in general are what they give off and feed off.  I want to point out here something I strongly believe. Love, impersonal or personal does not grant anyone the right to treat you or you them badly. In other words, if you are putting up with it because it is my ________ who is family or is my friend and there fore they don’t mean it, really. These vampires know what they are doing and if they really don’t realize they are doing it then they are mentally ill. Most of us know when we are being mean, it doesn’t feel good. Don’t stand for excuses or empty apologies.

Types of Emotional Vampires:

There are quite a few “types’ when you break it down. However, I am listing a few that we tend to deal with on a daily basis.

Emotional Wreck: This person is constantly in a state of emotional and mental confusions, drama, excitement, depression…they just can’t seem to keep themselves or their life in order without DRAMA.

Putdown Artist: No matter what you can rely on this person to slam you at each turn. They put you and anything you do down and usually really enjoy doing it in front of others.

The Hater: He/She is always hating on you or anyone that they perceive is better than them; richer, skinner, fatter, nicer, more successful, better house, car, life in general.

The Blamer: Everyone else it to blame for their problems or problems in general. Life sucks for them because everyone else keeps them down. They will usually say things like, “If it weren’t for those ______ things would be so much better.” Or “If it wasn’t for ______ I would be better.”

Moochers: These people are constantly borrowing from you – everything from a stick of gum to money. Like you want a stick of gum back! Anyway, they will suddenly come down with memory loss when it comes time for payback in money or favors.

Gossip Girl/Guy: Never do they have anything to say that isn’t salacious, bad news, judgments of others and pointing the bad in everyone and everything.

Bullies: No matter what age we are these nasty people seem to be around us at one time or another school, work, and socially. A bully loves to hurt, humiliate and dominate those that are weaker than themselves.

Manipulators: These are cunning tricksters that are sometimes hard to see at first. They are masters of deception and subterfuge to gain control over you.

Self-Destructor: This is friend or family member is dead set on bringing you down with them if you stick around and enable them. They are the alcoholic, party-holic, drug addict, etc.

The Downer: Always in a sour mood. Life sucks for them and they will let you know it. Think about that skit from Saturday Night Live with Debbie Downer. Funny as it is on television we all know that in real life that kind of person is so not fun or funny!

The Love Stealer: This person generally is your “friend”. They know all about you, your history, family etc. they have shared some good times with you but all along for them it is just a means to an end which is to get your partner or spouse in bed with them. This person wants you to know that they are better than you because they could have had your partner and you can’t hold them. They don’t necessarily want your partner they want the control over you. They know no boundaries.

If you still haven’t figured out if you are around or involved with any of these creatures here are a few warning signs:

• Excessively nice or friendly to everyone, to the extent that it is phony. This is to lure their victims into their world for them to feed off.
• Perpetual doom and gloom attitude and or moods
• Constantly making snide remarks to you or in general
• Almost all conversations with them start off with negative or bad news which they quick deflect or diffuse by saying “Oh I didn’t really mean that…”
• You feel drained, sad, mad or depressed when with them, before you know you have to see or talk to them and after you have left them

Most emotional vampires or toxic people are mentally ill on some level and they are miserable and self loathing. You cannot fix them or talk to them about their ways because they never see that they are wrong. It will always go back on you and the vicious circle continues. Do not enable them by having a “discussion” about how they are acting. They will not get it.

No Garlic or Crucifixes Needed:

In dealing with and or getting rid of emotional vampires the best thing to do is sever the relationship. However, I know this is not always practical because many of them are family members or co-workers, possibly bosses or spouses. My suggestion is to always keep things on a professional, non-personal, cordial level. Conversations should never include personal information. This includes weaknesses, fears, worries or even positive things like a promotion, raise, new this or that. Keep it strictly professional. If they start to gossip or try to lure you in by some “juicy” bit, which always starts out with “Don’t tell anyone but……” At this point, kindly change the subject or excuse yourself politely.

The main thing to remember is the less you engage them and the less attention you give them the quicker they will lose interest. On a spiritual level if you keep yourself at a positive energy level above them they will be less attracted to you because they are operating at a low frequency energy level. Like attracts like is true for this situation as it is for all things in the universe.

Many Blessings,

Cheri

This is an effective sleep prayer to help those suffering from insomnia. After you are in bed and get comfortable, take three deep breaths, inhale the good and exhale the stress of the day. Then repeat slowly, quietly and lovingly to yourself as you fall to sleep:

“My toes are relaxed, my ankles are relaxed, my legs are relaxed, my back is relaxed, my hands and arms are relaxed, my shoulders are relaxed, my neck is relaxed, my face is relaxed, my eyes are relaxed, my whole body and mind are relaxed. Relax, Relax, Relaxing, Relaxed. I fully and freely forgive everyone including myself and I wish for all harmony, health, peace and all the blessings of life. I am at peace. A great stillness comes over me and a great calm comes over my entire being as I realize the Divine Presence within me. I know that the realization of life and love heals me. I wrap myself in the mantle of love and I fall asleep filled with good will for all. Throughout the night peace remains with me, and in the morning I will be filled with life and love. A circle of love surrounds me. I sleep in peace and I wake in joy.”

Peaceful dreams,
Cheri

You get what you focus on and attract to you the things that you give a great deal of thought to. Ask yourself what have you been getting lately? If we are stuck in worry, fear, loss and or lack than that is what shows up in our lives. And if you keep rehashing a past hurt or loss then that too keeps you in that energy and continues to create the same in your present life.  While it is important to think about a situation or event that caused you pain so you can learn from the situation we don’t need to stay stuck in it. In order to make the best of it and move on we need to honor ourselves and what we experienced within that situation. Grieve, accept, learn, forgive yourself and others involved, regroup and move forward with your life. When we keep living in the past , complaining or rehashing a misfortune it only builds walls around you to block your good.

Our positive and negative thoughts also play out in our dreams. One of the best ways that you can guage where you are in your life subconsciously is through your dreams. If during your waking hours you “put on a happy face” in the midst of not so happy times, then your dreams could reflect that you are not being true to yourself by various dark and dreary dreams. Perhaps you dream of a mask or make-up or other disguises that in dreams represent you are hiding your true self. In addition, when you wake up from a dream the most important clue to your true emotional and subconscious state is the feeling you have immediately when you wake up which is usually a continuation of emotions in your dream, what you are truly feeling.  I have had what I considered really good days where I felt fine, everything went well during the day but at night my dreams were dark and filled with frustration. This means that there are deeper beliefs and or thought patterns that are driving me unconsciously that I need to change in order to get what I want out of my life.  On the flip side, when we are experiencing deep sorrow or grief we may have light dreams, happier dreams which is our inner light and beingness reflecting that it is there and it will see us through these dark times. I remember having some of my most beautiful and comforting dreams during one of my darkest periods after my boyfriend had passed away. 

Have you awakened from a dream where you just felt lousy? Maybe it was a sad dream filled with frustration or angry and you then all day long you felt out of sorts and just couldn’t get on track into your groove.  Whenever this happens try to pivot that negative emotion to a more positive emotion before getting out of bed. To pivot is to think of something that is just slightly better then that thought will bring another thought at that same level and then another and so on until you are in a positive emotional energy level. Here is an example: You wake up from a dream and you are in a pissy mood and if you get out of bed with that ”attitude” believe me you will keep attracting more pissy experiences to yourself on and on all day.  You stub your toe, trip on something on the way to the bathroom, then you spill your coffee or tea on you, then the traffic is backed up and you get every red light and it goes on and on. However, IF you would instead pivot from that pissy mood to a more positive thought before getting out of bed i.e. “Boy am I glad that was just a dream and I am awake now and can choose my mood”, “hey it is sunny outside, oh I am so happy spring is here I am looking so forward to being off this weekend where I can …….”  You see once you start on one slight improvement it brings another at that level and so on. Then you can get out of bed and go about your day bringing more and more good experiences to you. It doesn’t matter what the thought is specifically what you are looking for is the emotional energy to raise your vibration to a level of positive attraction.

At the end of the day, when you go to sleep, end it on a positive thought level that you really feel within you. Saying a prayer, forgive anyone including yourself from any missteps earlier in the day and be filled with gratitude. Keeping our energy level and thoughts raised to the level of goodness to ensure positive dreams and good life experiences.

Many Blessings and Sweet Dreams.

Cheri

As a young Christian, I often thought it was weird to call the day that Jesus was crucified good.  Then I learned the reason it is called Good Friday even though there seemed to be nothing good about the darkest day, is because it is darkest before the dawn of many who awakened to a new life.  Jesus arose from his grave as he said he would. He lives and His teachings live because of what transpired over Easter weekend. 

I think many of us have experienced dark days where we thought that it was the end. And many of us are experiencing some dark days now. Some of us have lost jobs, been downsized from our companies and we feel downsized in our souls. Some of us are going through divorce or the loss of loved one. Others may have debt piled so overwhelming high that it seems hopeless. Or maybe you have been betrayed by a friend or trusted confident and now  the one you thought you could trust has just thrown it away?  I certainly have  experienced many dark days.  And there were many, many times that I have been so down and felt so alone that I couldn’t see a possibility that things would ever be better.  How many have you been there? And what brought you out of your darkest day? For me it was my faith in God.

My faith and trust in God and focusing on God’s goodness and love keeps me and has kept me going during times I felt that I am being crucified. When I turn my focus to God and shut out all the noise and seemingly endless negativity from the world by going into silence and prayer God is there, always God is there.  In this time of silence, I surrender all my problems and hurts to God praying for His guidance and I am calmed. It is then that I hear and feel God telling me the way to keep going, how to reinvent myself, how to meet obligations and to be happy and successful in my life again. 

In dreams, God can talk to us easily because our subconscious is open and receptive to receiving information our conscious mind would otherwise question or dismiss. In our dreams we reach the theta state of consciousness. Theta is the state where God and the realm of creation is and we can get there as well in prayer. 

On this Good Friday, if you are experiencing a sort of personal crucifiction remind yourself that it is always darkest before the dawn. Go into silence and surrender to God with faith and trust that with God you will arise above it all to be new again. There is life after seeming death.

“Is it not known to all people that the dream is the most usual way that God reveals himself to man?” —- Tertullian

Many Blessings and Sweet Dreams.

Cheri

When working with affirmations our conscious mind, intellect can sometimes get in the way by negating what your affirmation is telling you. The best way to combat your “thinking” mind when it wants to argue with an affirmation is to state one  that is neutral.  Below is a neutral and wonderful affirmation that has worked for me and some others. It opens your mind to receive unexpected good and your conscious mind can’t argue with that – it’s unexpected!

The unexpected happens!

My seemingly impossible good now comes to pass.

I hope you have an unexpectantly wonderful weekend.

Many Blessings.

Cheri

It seems these days, especially, many a night has been spent up and down, tossing and turning and staring at the ceiling hoping for sleep to come. When we carry monsters of worry, stress, hostile people and fear to sleep with us our dream time can be a battle or a nightmare. It is so important for us humans to get our rest, sleep to rejuvenate our bodies, mind and soul from the day of stress.

 Below I have listed a few ideas to establish or enhance your bedtime routine and help you get to sleep and peaceful dream land.

*  Have a nice cup of tea (chamomile is a nice choice.) I love “Sweet Dreams” by Bigelow Teas

 * Take a few deep breaths and feel the day’s stresses go out with each exhale 

 * Visualize your next day exactly how you want it to go as if it has already happened then ask God or your angels to bless it and bring you messages in your dreams. 

 * Read something inspirational,  listen to relaxing music or if you must watch t.v. a funny or romantic feel good show is best. Leave the news programs, crime and horror flicks off. 

 * A nice fragrance of lavender or a personal favorite of mine White Angelica on your person, pillow or sachet under your pillow 

 * Pray as though what you are asking for is already done.

 * Meditate

 * Write in your journal. It really helps to purge all that stuff in our heads and then it is not as likely to keep us up once it is out on paper. 

Last but not least these two things have worked for me when all else has not: I kiss my pillow and tell it I want to go to sleep now. I know it sounds silly but it really does work. The other idea is that I simply say to my angels, “I am really ready for sleep can you help me to sleep now? Thank you.” And before I realize it I am sleeping peacefully and in dreamland. 

 Sweet Dreams!

Cheri

There is much discussion in the scientific world as to whether or not we dream in color or in black and white. I have read that some scientists believe that about 80% of our dreams are in color while others say it is biologically impossible to dream in black and white.  On a purely psychic level and not so “scientific” meaning of colors comes from clairvoyants.  A clairvoyant  is someone who can see peoples aura’s (energy surronding us) say that a subjects mood or feeling are a resultant color. i.e. “green with envy or jealousy” “seeing red” or “having the blues” etc. 

 Colors in dreams as in life also have different meanings with respect to our personal feelings, experiences and likes or dislikes of a particular color. For example in general the colors black , dark grey or browns are said to depress people who wear these colors or are surrounded by them. But for me personally being a fashionista those colors are fabulous and when I wear black I feel powerful, in-style and confident. When I wear brown I notice I am in a more down to earth mood. I have worked in the fashion industry for years and any woman in fashion knows the little black dress (thank you Coco Chanel) is a must for all of us! And far from depressing! But let me not get into fashion here - that is a whole other blog! I simply wanted to point out how colors have personal meaning too. The color meanings listed below are general meanings. As I always point out go with your gut or intuitive reaction to the color when interpreting it in your dream.

Black: dark and mysterious, death, mourning or hate if accompanied with feelings of fear. Can also be uncertainty. If you have positive emotions in your dream with the color black it can hint to unmanifested spiritual gifts or qualities

Blue: Truth, Wisdom, calmness, tranquility, devotion (true blue)

Brown: Practical, down to earth, earthy as in nature

Green: healthy, growth, goodness, peace, healing/healer, learning

Gray: depression, fear, illness and undefined or not clear, i.e. the gray area or it’s not black or white its gray meaning not this or that but something in the middle.

Purple: Royalty, healing abilities, spiritual oneness with God, spiritual powers, success, psychic abilities

Orange: Friendly, out going, social, energy, happy.

Pink: Love, affection, kindness, softness, lack of fear

Red: Pure, raw energy, action, power to love or hate or conquer, controlling, agressive

White: Purity, clean, fresh, perfection, holiness

Yellow: Intelligence, happy, new beginnings

Pastel colors are hues of the primary colors and indicate an immaturity or weakness in the area of the particular color.

May you have wonderful colorful dreams tonight.

Sweet Dreams.

Cheri