Spirit is alive!

Even as an energy therapist and hypnotherapist, I still struggle to be grounded. Being in and experiencing the present moment is something that I work towards and I have to admit, the more I practice, the easier it becomes; just like second nature.

During a meditation, I was able to observe how instinctively and subconsciously my spirit strives to be present. My career choices, including that of being a hypnotherapist, makes me focus on the present moment. I work one-on-one with clients. I focus on their experiences and help them achieve the necessary changes to improve the quality of their lives. This requires me to attentive, inspired and be aware of events that occur in present time. My meditation brought this to my awareness.

Spirit always serves your highest good. Trust in your spirit and honor the process that it takes. Even when all seems to be bleak, reevaluate your choices, those that are permanent and those that can be changed. By doing so, you will begin to notice patterns. Through these patterns spirit gives you what you need. Can you observe how spirit tries to serve you?

Lets use my friend as a quick example. He was laid off a year ago and has not found a job in his field but has managed to find part-time work that he doesn't connect with. He has 2 part time jobs. Now, the ego might put pressure, and express disappointment that his career has not flourishing. It might even beat him down and cause him to be stressed, ashamed, and angry. Spirit, on the other hand, created a situation where his essential needs are met (food, shelter) and yet he is carefree. In his previous career he was always worried about performance. Now, in his current jobs, he doesn't worry at all about it. He doesn't have expectations, "shoulda, wouldca, couldma, musta." It's a blessing in disguise. For the first time in his life, he is actually stress free!

Maybe not all our situations and experiences are ideal, but if you change your perspective, you change your life! I welcome you to trust that all is always well. Listen to your spirit. It will lead you to a life of happiness!

Adriana Kugman is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Energy Therapist, practicing in Walnut Creek, CA.

The Dragonfly brings emotional clarity, the opportunity for change, and reawakening. It encourages meditation as a support system for all the upcoming magical transformations.

Spiritual Emergency versus Spiritual Emergence

A spiritual emergency, commonly referred to as a crisis, is the moment in time when you are just not functional. It happens to all of us, whether in the form of a meltdown, break down, whatever type of down. It isn't contagious but we all experience it during our lives, at either seemingly meaningless moments or those so traumatic that it is expected.

The moment of crisis has at it's core the trauma of spirit. It is the nature of spirit, true, free, loving, purposeful, confronted by an adversarial force, a loss, an attack. Spirit does not identify with these "negative" experiences and ego immediately comes to the rescue. Ego will try to fight back, take flight, think through in the most logical of ways, confer with societal values, all to understand, integrate and respond to the situation. Then the miracle happens. Spirit kicks back in and says, this is not the way, you are not like that. Spirit brings you back to source energy, the God within, true, honest love. Now the conflict between ego and spirit begins. Little do we know at the time that spirit always, ALWAYS wins. Just give it time.

This time is referred to as the spiritual emergence. It is the rediscovery of the soul, the rediscovery of spirit. This process is the not generally the shortest or the easiest but it is by far, one of the most rewarding things in life. It opens new doors and opportunities for us. It makes life livable, even enjoyable. During this time we learn new ways, we open our hearts and our minds. We come to terms with our lives and ourselves--in a good way.

Briefly jot down your own moments of crisis and recovery. Create a side-by-side chart labeled spiritual emergency and spiritual emergence. This chart can become your go-to when times get tough because it reminds you that you are a survivor. You have passed through moments of crisis and are recovered (or better yet, in the process of recovery, which can take a life time). Wow, your spirit is so strong and gaining strength through each spiritual emergency/emergence. Pat yourself on your back. Enjoy your day!

The Cherry Blossom tree holds much symbolism. In Japanese culture, it represents the transience of life, mono no aware. For the Chinese, it signifies power and love. We can all appreciate the beauty of this striking, silent blossom.

Energy hand exchange for the New Year

Happy New Year!

In 2012 may you live joyfully and abundantly!

My resolution begins with blogging once again. After a challenging 2011, I now welcome the breath of fresh air that 2012 brings. To start off the new year, I invite you to ask your spirit what it desires. Note to reader: spirit, not ego. What warms your heart, puts a smile on your face or simply brings you comfort and peace?

Some might say love, friendship, gardening, working or even money. You decide what your spirit really needs. Now the big question comes: What are you willing to exchange or give up for your desire? Think about that.

Do some soul searching, take honest inventory, and notice your energy (where and how it flows). Think of your needs/desires as fitting into the palm of your right hand. Now place in your left hand all the characteristics/situations that stand in the way of your needs/desires . You'll be surprised as to how easy it is to recognize what stands in the way of your needs. Once identified, take a few deep breathes and whenever ready, symbolically exchange your hands. With open fingers and outstretched hand, release all the negative characteristics from your left hand. Simultaneously, grasp your right hand, retaining all your needs and desires.

Repeat this as often as you need to remind yourself that all your needs and desires are attainable, as long as you let go of those characteristics/situations standing in the way. This simple visual energy exchange keeps you focused on your goals. It also makes you aware when your goals change. For an even greater impact, do this exchange verbally, out loud, in front of the mirror. The visual impact, as well as the physical, combined with your spiritual connection can bring about miracles!

Happy New Year!

The penguin, as an animal spirit guide, depicts power and durability. It reminds us that we have everything we need inside to manifest our desires. To learn more about animal spirit guides please reference the book, Animal Spirit Guides by Steven Farmer.

Power Animals--Guiding Animal Spirits

I recently saw the movie, The Golden Compass, and was touched by some concepts that set the tone of the movie. It is family friendly movie where children are the main characters and one in particular tries to save their world (and possibly another). What

interested me was that in this world, each person had a daemon, an animal spirit guide, that protects them.

What charmed me was the fact that The Golden Compass is yet another in a series of movies that introduces audiences to the spirit world, the underworld, fairies, nature spirits and animal guides. Even if the information is not accurate and overly dramatic, a la Hollywood, it still reaches a vast audience,

in various parts of the world, and contributes to a shift in consciousness.

Animal spirit guides make part of the spiritual collective of helpers to assist and protect us

during our physical experience on earth. A person may have multiple animal spirit guides to

assist them through different moments in their life. One of the leading sources on animal guide symbolism and explanation is Steven Farmer. His book, Animal Spirit Guides, contains well over a hundred animal guides and their meanings, and serves as a useful guide.

To get to know your animal spirit guide you could perform a shamanic journey to meet your power animal. Also notice what animals keep reappearing to you. Usually if an animal shows up 3 or more times it offers a message that is meant for you.

To learn more about shamanic journeys, the spirit world and power animals, visit www.spiritbeyond.com. Adriana Kugman, MS, CCHt, Reiki Master can help you discover your power animal.

Vibrational Manifestation--Like Attracts Like

I want to share with you exerps of a wonderful book which I have been reading, Ask And It Is Given, by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Esther and Jerry Hicks, along with Jane Roberts, are the forerunners in channeling and communicating with spirit. The material they offer is considered "textbook" and a standard when learning about spirituality and metaphysics. It serves as a joyful guideline on how to live your life...joyfully. As found on page 15 (chapter 4), the channeled spirits offer this message to you and me:

"Perhaps the question we hear most often from our physical friends is: Why is it taking me so long to get what I want?

It is not because you do not want it enough.

It is not because you are not intelligent enough.

It is not because you are not worthy enough.

It is not because fate is against you.

It is not because someone else has already won your prize.

The reason you have not already gotten what you desire is because you are holding yourself in a vibrational holding pattern that does not match the vibration of your desire."

These are very valuable words, and at least for me, they lit a light bulb. If I want a Masseratti, yet I think like a Chevy, I will never get what I want. All thoughts and feelings of self deprication, lack of self worth, drama and fatalism will only attract the like. We are all electromagnetic, living organisms. We each have our own resonance and vibration and similar vibrations compliment one another and fit each other. These similar vibrations are harmonious, thus people that we like and feel good with are vibrationally harmonious with us.

With this powerful information you can begin to make the changes necessary in your life to start attracting what you desire. These changes may take time to fully achieve because you are smart and no one, including yourself, could fool you. So, if you want to earn $1 million yet you don't believe that you deserve it, then no matter how many times you ask for the money, you will not get. You must reset yourself to allow for limitless joy, opportunity and creativity. You are worth it!

To change negative or self-limiting patterns, thoughts and/or beliefs visit http://www.spiritbeyond.com/ and schedule a session with Adriana Kugman, MS, CCHt, Reiki Master.

Is there really such a thing as Blind Faith?

I suppose the real question is faith or blind faith? Faith is a belief. It is a conviction that is so strong that, at times, it may go against logical reason and transcend through various aspects of life.

These convictions serve a need in humanity. Religious and spiritual convictions provide comfort and healing for the spirit when it faces difficult circumstances. People develop specific beliefs, such as a higher power, life after life, endless love and so many more, and though the nuances differ for each individual, the belief itself is very clear.

So I question if faith could ever be blind. The beginning, the need for the belief is clear. The outcome of the belief is that it served as a support system, encouragement and hope through a passage in one's life.

I encourage you to reflect on what faiths/beliefs you have and brush them up. Give them a makeover so that they truly represent the person you are now. By doing so you get to know yourself better and you give yourself a spiritual boost.

Being present or being Grounded, wait, which...?

The catch 22 phrase of psychotherapy, alternative therapy, spiritual therapy and all other therapies and philosophies, far and many in between, is to "be present". By being present you increase your (self) awareness, thus are more grounded. Huh?

It's suffice to say that I am not an expect on being present or on grounding, but I do have real, life experience in facilitating this curiosity. Are being present and grounding the same thing? No.

Being present has very much to do with self-awareness and living in the moment. An example of a person being present is when they wake up every day and do what ever they can to feel joyful, engaged and satisfied with that day. So, beginning with a wonderful, fulfilling breakfast of oatmeal (with nuts, dried fruits and honey), to the fantastic opportunity to listen to great music on the (long) drive to work, to being more responsible at the work place, each activity experienced throughout the day is given respect and seen in the best possible light. Even realizing that your job is just not a good fit for you and accepting that, along with a quick look on Craigslist for potential new employers, embodies the spirit of being present. It calls for self-realization, doing what you can at the moment and having as much fun as possible. Now, it is not mandatory to have fun while being present--and I will get philosophical here--but then you would be denying the magnitude of your existence. Please skip to the next paragraph if you don't want the mini philosophy lesson. The logical conclusion of life is to live to your fullest, thus receiving joy from every breath. Even though there is a natural balance to life (good, evil, yin, yang), the "good" sentiments, emotions, actions, will always lead to satisfaction and authenticity. Being "bad" serves only as a comparison point of what not to do because then "I don't feel good about myself". It's a learning experience. However, fundamentally, if you live only in the "bad" you are denying your expansive existence and thus are not being present.

Being grounded refers to the capacity you have to understand life and it's experiences. Grounding is the process that allows you to integrate information in a manner that can help you grow. Say that you are not getting along with a co-worker. The grounding process would begin with an analysis of what gets you about the co-worker and why it gets you (seriously, popping gum is no biggie). This analysis only leads to a better understanding of your needs (and your actions-reactions). Then you can integrate this information into your life experiences. Next time your co-worker annoys you with that gum popping, you will immediately recognize that it reminds you of your brother when he was younger. Now that you are much older there is no need to perceive your co-worker as an annoying child but rather let bygones by bygones. Or, you may want to tell them that you can't get the image of your annoying brother out of your head and ask them to be more mindful of their popping (I'm just saying).

I hope that this short entry brings you one step closer to having a clearer and firmer grasp of being present and being grounded.

Adriana Kugman is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Energy Therapist that works in the East Bay, CA. To practice grounding or to learn how to be more present, visit http://www.spiritbeyond.com/.