Setting the Stage of Higher Consciousness

Sitting on my couch reading "Be Here Now," by Ram Das. I was twenty-two years old and something was stirring inside of me. I could not put my finger on what was shifting but change was coming. A new spiritual awareness was growing. Ram Das book seemed to say it all. "Be Here Now" is still a most treasured book one I recently shared with my thirty year old son. In my twenties, a few weeks after reading "Be Here Now," my cousin introduced me to the practice of meditation. The "sixties" was a time of change and spiritual transformation. I and many of the "sixties"generation was "initiated" into the practice of meditation. Since that time, over forty years ago, I have rarely missed a day of meditating and fondly remember the days when I still had the time to meditate two times a day as was suggested by the meditation teachers. Meditation has been a mainstay of my life helping my mind and body to relax and my consciousness to expand into the awareness of Oneness, Unity, experiencing something Greater than myself.

In the last few years I have added prayer into my morning spiritual practice. I use the hand positions from the book "The Healing Code." Then I invite my Higher Power into my life. These two practices set the stage for the day. When I say my morning prayers (and I still include everyone the same way I did when I was a child), and invite my Higher Power into my life, it makes me aware who is really running the show. I remember that I am a co-creator with God with an emphasis on the lower case "co." In my prayers I ask higher power to protect me and my loved ones, and to help me do the work "It" feels is in my best interest for that day. I ask that my intuition be clear and that I be able to hear what I need to hear to stay in alignment with my Higher Power-be loving, speak kind words, and complete the tasks at hand feeling satisfied at the end of the day.

Meditation, the effortless meditation kind that I have been practicing and teaching for over forty years, sets the stage for an expanded awareness. From all of the research I have read I know that I have reaped the benefits of this amazing technique; brain coherence, resiliency, and brain re-organization at a higher level of order. (Michael Hutchinson: Author of Mega Brain). The result has been quite healing-(increased positive thinking, confidence, better learning ability). Prayer, speaking aloud to God, is something I have been practicing more recently. The result has created a stronger connection, with Higher Power and a belief that I am cared for and loved by an unconditionally loving Supreme Being. Both practices set the spiritual stage for the day and accelerate the process of higher conscious awareness.



Love, Light, Healing and Blessings
Ruth Starseed Hoskins, Ph.D., H.H.S., LCSW
www.RelaxationInternational.com
RuthStarseed.blogspot.com

 

The Presence of the Spiritual Guides is always there

Even though I grew-up with a difficult step-father who married my mother and moved in with us when I was seven years old, I remember remaining a buoyant and happy child. Like most children playing was the way I looked forward to the day. I woke up happy and effectively blocked out the negativity from the household; a heavy energy that predominated bringing with it a general lack of connection between the four people who lived together; my mother, step-father, sister and I. With the exception of my sister who stands out in my mind as brightly colored in contrast to the gray charcoal figures of my mother and step-father lurking in the background, I knew there was nothing I could do about the way they related to me or the way I to them. Nothing was ever going to change and it never did. They would remain punitive and negative. I buoyant and happy. So I tuned them out unless they intruded into my world needing to correct or doubt my abilities to succeed. Perhaps to escape them, at any possible time, I could not wait to get outside and play. Free and unencumbered the outdoors was the place I wanted to be except on rainy days when I recall playing monopoly and checkers indoors sitting on the floor next to my sister. I wanted to win against the older sibling who managed, through the chaos of our lives to get all A's.

School work was not on the top of my agenda. In fact I was never certain what was going on in the classroom. I was behind and  learned to fly below the radar keeping my head lower than the person sitting in front of me; perhaps I would not be called on. The three o’clock bell rang and out the school door I flew running the mile home from school to get ready to play. Playing felt good and it was during these free moments that I sensed the familiar presence of my Spiritual Guides always close by ready to help. Like the time I heard the voice of the guides telling me to "Stop" and look down.There was the lost pearl ring lying under thousands of leaves that had fallen on a blustery October day. The presence of my Guides helping, guiding and protecting.

When I grew-up and became an adult challenges increased. I had to work harder to keep the presence of the Spiritual Guides awake in my consciousness. As my unconscious mind spewed up material from childhood for processing and re-examination, it was harder to hold on to the positive energy, the familiar positive presence of the Spiritual Guides. The earth-walk was denser and harder. Still, I sensed their presence as they watched how I made decisions, what path I followed. They gently whispered and guided. Thank-you Spiritual Guides for your loving guiding hand. I am grateful for your loving and healing Presence.

Gratefully,
Ruth Starseed Hoskins
www.Facebook.com/RuthStarseed
http://www.RelaxationInternational.com
www.RuthStarseed.blogspot.com

Insight and Wisdom-Final Days on Earth

At the end of my mother’s life the family went into counseling. She said, “I wish I had done this before.” My mother was a woman in charge of her life; in control of herself and those around her. She loved her family and was excited to discover new things, gain insight, and grow in wisdom. Counseling would give her the opportunity. She appreciated the family support and agreement that we would attend. She was intensely interested in therapy something she had never experienced before. I, a psychotherapist knew the reasons why we as a blended family had not gone into counseling before this time. Now, at the end of my mother’s life it was too late. With the short time she had left we attended a few sessions; my step-father played his protective role of her. For him family therapy was too confrontational and threatening; his wife was dying; he did not want to upset her with emotional exchange. My step-father could not see that she yearned for insight and wisdom even during her final days on earth. Although I look back on this time as a missed opportunity for psychological and spiritual growth, today, when I am in need of healing, I seek support through different healing modalities including group support. Whether as a participant or facilitator, in a psychotherapeutic setting, we grow from feedback and interaction with others. Although sometimes confrontational, the end result-wisdom and empowerment.

I heard it said that life is painful, suffering is optional. Like my step-father, I wonder how many times I missed opportunities by choosing to avoid emotional pain and the wisdom it can ultimately bring yet encouraging others to explore their personality and emotional wounds. Understandably, emotions can make us feel weak and vulnerable the way we felt as children. Avoiding painful and intense feelings is understandable; anger, fear, resentment, jealousy to name just a few of the hundreds of human emotions we can experience is challenging. Perhaps we fear that we will suffer too long or lose control. However, exploring emotions brings insight; emotions help us to stretch and grow into a new self and direct us onto a path of self-discovery uncovering unknown hidden parts of the psyche. At any point in the life cycle, we have the opportunity to grow and discover ourselves anew, even during the final days on earth.

Love, Light, Healing and Many Blessings,

Ruth Starseed Hoskins

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http://www.RelaxationInternational.com

A Soul Satisfying Day

When I was in my twenties, I worked at an outpatient mental health clinic. I recall one of the psychiatrists telling a story about a plaque that hung on the bathroom wall in his childhood home. It said, "What have you accomplished today?" The messages he received in his home were similar to the messages in my home. In our home, we did not have a plaque hanging on the bathroom wall. There were however, many spoken and unspoken messages related to accomplishing.

For example, it was frowned upon to nap in the afternoon. Being in motion and active is what counted. Outdoor play was approved of; hours upon hours of playing hide-and-seek, bouncing the pinky-ball against the wall, touch football with the boys. I never tired and it was better than going home. Napping, resting, or lounging around on a Saturday afternoon was frowned upon. It was a sign of weakness, an unproductive child.

Luckily, I like to be on the move. As an adult, the problem with being on the go for the sake of being busy equating that with Soul satisfaction, is that it is not the same. For a real Soul satisfying day I need to write. Writing is a loved creative outlet. When I remember to write (sometimes I forget), it is easier to let go of the nagging feeling that I must be busy and on the go accomplishing anything, just as long as I am in motion.

Writing is my creative Soul satisfying outlet. I sit down to write and to create, Writing taps into my creative power (creation). That feels great! When taking time to do something I love it is much easier to appreciate my day. I don't have to work so hard to have happy thoughts or feel expansive or good inside. I just feel good-plain and simple. When I write I get in touch with a part of myself that is connected to my Soul. When this Ah Ha Soul satisfying moment comes, it is so much easier to surrender to Higher Power and enjoy my life.

A real Soul satisfying day makes life easier and creates ease and grace. A real Soul satisfying day allows me to trust the direction of my life; appreciate the lessons, the hard ones and enjoy more fully the easier and joyful ones. A Soul satisfying day brings a fresh perspective and helps me to let go of worry about the future. A Soul satisfying day helps me to stay on course no matter how long a manifestation a dream of mine may take to unfold. In fact, manifestation becomes secondary to a Soul satisfying day; it fades into the background of the many competing desires that race out of my heart and mind clamoring wildly for first place. When I write, in the foreground of my heart and mind is a colorful Soul satisfying day.

Love, Light, Healing and Many Blessings,

Ruth Starseed Hoskins

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Grateful for Lessons Learned: Looking Back 2013

On January 1st 2013, if someone had given me a glimpse of the future, I might have pulled the covers over my head and stayed in bed. There were many lessons I learned this year, many challenging albeit worthwhile for me to grow and change. In fact, lessons, as they are designed to do, propelled me onto a stronger spiritual course. For this, I am grateful. Now, as 2014 is almost here, it is a time for review.

Lessons learned:
1- I learned I have absolutely unequivocally no control over anyone’s behavior.
2- Everyone is responsible for creating their own destiny. I am not in charge.
3- I learned that God is in charge of everything and that the only thing that makes sense in terms of co-creatorship (a spiritual principle I believe in) is that I have control over my attitude.
4- The direction of my life? I must wait, in faith, for direction from my Higher Power. As of this writing, the direction arrived and was confirmed in a dream. I am grateful for that.
5- Since I have control over my attitude, what I believe and the way that I think, I am grateful to let go of psychological things that no longer serve me.
6- I am giving up all resentments past and present. I remind myself to live and let live. Thinking this way is an act of forgiveness.
7- Self-care is at the top of the list. Yes, I like to help others, but I need more than an hour each day to take care of my meditation, prayer, walking, and preparing organic vegetables for juicing.
8- To this end I completely changed my diet and eat 95% organic. 80% raw. Lots of greens and juicing with my special juicing machines.
9 -I never miss my 30 minute 1.3 mile walk daily.
10- I really cherish the time taking care of myself.
11- I learned that service to another is by far the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to another person. To this end I have added on to the Red Cross volunteering to feed the homeless at the Sunday Mission. When I am there I am reminded over and over of the many blessings in my life. I am grateful.
12- I am putting together a new service project for 2014. More on that….
13- I am so grateful for all of my blessings that I now speak aloud to God as I walk down the street. I thank, and I thank, and I thank again. I have so many blessings that I can’t stop thanking Higher Power for all of them.
14- There is a path of compassion and I am on it. This means that I want to continue to develop compassion and live in that consciousness the best that I can.
15- Besides the meditation that I do daily and that I have been doing for forty years, I pray every day for healing for myself, my family, loved ones, friends, and the world.
16- Prayer brings miracles and the greatest miracle is that I have control over my consciousness to make it what I want it to be every minute, every second of every day. It takes a conscious effort of integrating body, mind, and spirit.
17- Did I say I was grateful for all of the new things in my life?
18- Every day, in meditation, I invite Higher Power into my life. I say aloud. “I invite you in. I know you are there facing me, and now I am turning and facing you. Help me to speak kind words and to remember that everyone has their own Higher Power and I am not it.”
19- And every day I remind myself that in “reality” I am Soul on an earth walk. This lifetime is one of thousands of incarnations that I have lived as Soul on this planet and in other places in the solar system; a powerful incarnation designed for spiritual growth. Meditation and prayer brings me closer to the awareness, the knowledge, that I am a spiritual being of light on an earth walk. I am Soul.
20-Love is everything. Striving to be the most loving person (not ignoring emotional challenges) is the most important thing to do.
I love you!
I wish you all many many blessings for an abundant 2014!

Love, Light, Healing and Many Blessings,
Ruth Starseed Hoskins
https://www.facebook.com/RuthStarseed
http://www.RelaxationInternational.com

Surrendering: Delving Deeper into Spirituality

Thirteen years old and ready for bat mitzvah, I asked the rabbi, “Can we learn about Jesus?" Part rebellion, but mostly curious and sincere, I did not know then, what I know now- in previous lifetimes I lived as a cloistered nun loving the Great Master Teacher known to Christians around the world as the Son of God, known to me in this lifetime as someone to love and to emulate. Although I was not raised Christian, nor was Jesus talked about in our home, I think about Jesus often. In fact, I think about Jesus every day. When I reflect on the meaning of surrendering to Higher Power, I  think about the wise and different things Jesus said: On surrendering he said, “I can of my own self do nothing, for I seek not my own will but the Will of the Father.”

Powerful words that will always be true. The words of the Great Master Teacher Jesus Christ hold true no matter what century we live in, or religion or belief we hold; the bottom line is that we will not move forward in life in a loving and positive way without the will and intention of a Higher Power-the Will of the Father as Jesus said. We all need something to lean on. Surrendering to Higher Power is the best way no matter how you conceptualize your Higher Power. Personally, and after much searching, I am drawn to the New Age idea of Christ as a Divine loving and forgiving Consciousness. A way of living life that is available for us all to aspire to; we are all son's and daughter's of God. Developing a loving and forgiving consciousness is a direct route to making conscious contact with one's Higher Power.

I like to study dreams. They take me deeper into my spirituality. To make a strong point, a recent dream brought this information. In the dream I was on an operating table at a local hospital, Roxborough Hospital. The operation was going to be performed in the basement. I was in a poorer section of the city where they did surgery in the basement. I was about to be anesthetized. I noticed that the walls of the operating room were brownish. The tiles were smooth and grimy looking like you might see in a bathroom in a subway. Still, I had to trust that the surgeons knew what they were doing and that I was in good hands. On the operating table I felt helpless; I had to surrender. The doctor was unfamiliar; I did not totally trust his skill. Still, I was on his operating table. I had to let go and not resist the operation. The operation was going to take place no matter what I did. Surrender was the key to success and at that  point there was no choice. The doctor gave me anesthesia and in the dream. I prayed to Babaji an Eastern Guru I studied about in the past.

In the dream I surrendered to the operation. In waking reality, when I surrender to Higher Power, I imagine myself waving a white flag signaling my need for help-someone, or something, to lean on. At those tired times, in those tired moments, I know I cannot do anything without the strength and direction of my Higher Power. This was the case in the dream.

After the operation, I got up and walked around the basement of the hospital. There were many people in the basement including interns learning new skills. I looked out the window onto a small yard. I was glad there was a window to enjoy the scenery. The yard was filled with green trees, a small lawn and shrubs. The message in the dream was that there was hope for the future. In the dream, I was the patient and had to completely (no half-way measures) wave the white flag and surrender to experience a deeper spirituality and connection to my Higher Power.

“Why art thou troubled because things do not succeed with thee according to thy desire? Who is there who hath all things according to his will? Neither I, nor thou, nor any man upon earth.”

Thomas A’Kempis.

Love, Light, Healing and Many Blessings,

Ruth Starseed
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Controlling the Uncontrollable

Trying to control something that is out of my control makes me lose faith and worse, I wonder if Higher Power does not have my best interests at heart. By trying to control what I cannot control-another person’s life- their journey, their direction in life, is an act in futility-it is not going to happen-ever. When I start thinking that I know best and have answers for another person I have to let go, take a deep breath, and remind myself that it is God’s show, not mine. Every minute of every day I must remind myself of this truth; I have to wake up and go to sleep with this thought in mind. If I don’t keep this thought in the front of my mind, or if I think that my will is stronger than Divine Will, I will suffer.

The challenge is I want to know how everything is going to turn out. I want everything to be okay! I want the outcome to be positive and perfect, but first I want the outcome written on a large piece of paper and handed down to me from above, or at the least, put in sky writing so I know my loved ones are safe and secure and that eventually everything will right itself. Since that is wishful thinking, I have to surrender and let go. Otherwise, the anxiety of trying to control the uncontrollable is unbearable.

Unbearable!

It is at this point of suffering that I have to let go and surrender what seems impossible to do. I have to surrender the fear and anxiety and place it in God’s hands whatever the outcome. As the well-known preacher and positive thinker Joel Osteen says, “It is easy to have faith when things are going well.” Much harder when there is waiting and watching and hoping and praying for a positive outcome. Of course other people have to create their own positive result. It is out of my control.

So for today, I am letting go of what is impossible to control, the uncontrollable.

Love, Light, Healing and Many blessings,


Ruth Starseed
https://www.facebook.com/RuthStarseed



 

During Challenging Times Keep Moving

It takes a conscious effort to build good habits. During hard times, the good habits are life-savers. When the hard times come, and there will always be hard times, the good habits sustain through loss, grief, divorce, illness; life does not stop, nor does it slow down and wait for us to finish grieving. Our strong self-care habits see us through. When the challenges come, our job is to not to come to a standstill although the tendency is to pull the covers over our head. During the challenging times keep moving.

When we experience loss the tendency is to withdraw and do nothing. We are stressed, sad, lonely, anxious, depressed and grieving. This is Nature's way to slow us down and reintegrate physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  If, however, we are grieving and do nothing for a long period of time, the physical stress of grieving increases stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine. Too much cortisol released in the body increases inflammation and disease. Illness can result. Stress needs to be managed and stress hormones need to be released using exercise, drinking fresh water and eating whole organic (when possible) foods and practicing meditation. It is best to keep moving; go for a walk, a swim, Pilates, yoga, and do something active. It helps balance the stress. Here’s what I do. Even when not in the mood to go for the walk or a swim, the good habits developed over the years push me forward.

1-In the morning, every day I make a green smoothie filled with chlorophyll. It is made up of celery and kale and ginger and cucumber and wheat grass. I mix it all together and enjoy the wonderful life force that comes from eating fresh organic “live food.” For variety, I sometimes use the Vita Mix and throw all the vegetables into the machine adding blueberries or blackberries to the morning drink.

2-That is followed by a 30 minute meditation and then a 30 minute walk that includes deep breathing. Twice a week I go for a swim.

3-Every morning I pray using the techniques in the book The Healing Code.

4-Daily I write my dreams. Dreams are portals to inner insights and inner worlds. There is much to be learned from dreams.

Most importantly, it is important to build good habits daily, especially during the easier times in life. When the challenging times come, and they will, we can meet them with confidence knowing that our good habits, the ones we developed during the slow and easier times will sustain us through the harder more challenging times helping to maintain equilibrium and balance.

Love, Light, Healing, and Many Blessings,

Ruth Starseed
http://www.RelaxationInternational.com
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The Nanosecond of Divine Timing

I would like to think that I can be grateful all of the time for both the blessings and the hardships. But during the challenging times, I slip back into feelings of fear and forget that my Higher Power is in charge down to the last nanosecond. (A nanosecond is one billionth of a second) Since I can’t comprehend what one billionth of a second looks or feels like, I have no choice but to take a step back and spiritually surrender. In other words, “turn it over” to a Higher Power. When I do so, I can vaguely conceptualize the nanosecond of Divine Timing. Higher Power has the first, middle, and last moves in my life-in all our lives orchestrating the finest details. Looking back over the bigger events in my life; getting accepted to graduate school; having children; getting married, divorced and then re-married, I see the hand of God and I see the nanosecond of Divine Timing. However, when I am waiting for a new cycle to begin, wondering what is next and asking myself, “Am I going in the right direction?” I lose perspective and sometimes absurdly believe that God may have forgotten me-impossibility.

In respect to the nanosecond of Divine Timing, I never would have met and married my husband if he and I had not lived in the same neighborhood and belonged to the same gym. (He was born overseas. I had moved several times. I lived in several different States.) I had seen him at the gym before he finally asked for my telephone number. Reluctantly, I gave it to him. I was not interested in another relationship, in fact at that time, I could not imagine being with anyone ever again. But God had other ideas for me. That day, in the gym, the nanosecond of Divine Timing had arrived for a bigger event, a change in my life. In tiny print, I hesitantly, wrote my number on the inside of a match book cover, hardly readable. Luckily for me he called. Soon we began dating and had thirteen wonderful years together. Then, God had other plans for both of us. I watched his life come to a close as I helped him in the hospice during his last days and hours on earth.

Now, four years later, having had a myriad of many new life lessons, I remind myself that Divine Timing down to the last nanosecond brings all things in Its own time. In other words, I cannot push the river. I can however, learn to be grateful for all of the lessons I am learning and have learned, different from what I anticipated at this time in my life. Some days are more challenging than others. Then, I mediate more frequently, pray, and tap into my creativity by writing-my favorite thing to do. Or listen to an inspirational CD, or go for a walk or a swim. Juicing twice a day is an important part of how I approach my day and look forward to. Every day I remind myself that God, Higher Power is in charge of my life. I am in charge of my attitude and for this reason I am a co-creator with my Higher Power. To this end, it is important to stay positive, be grateful for what is in front of me, help others, and live in the moment waiting for the nanosecond of Divine Timing to bring the bigger events, not more important events however, into my life.

Love, Light, Healing, and Many Blessings,

Ruth Starseed

http://www.RelaxationInternational.com
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