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
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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
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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

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Life after Death: Healing Hands of Light from the Other Side

There are spiritual beings of light who work with us and help heal us from the other side; people who are deceased but who continue to help others here on earth. I know this is a hard concept to grasp; Light Beings who continue working on our behalf helping people in the physical body. Deceased relatives, friends, healers, spiritual guides and angels interested in us, our healing, and our life. However it is true. They are God's messengers; they don't want us to suffer and if we are open to it, will guide us to find healing as they deliver healing light from the other side.

I have had contact with deceased relatives directing me to find things; unfinished business that needed to be done, paper work, envelopes that were placed in drawers where the deceased relative directed me to find them. It is a hard concept to believe; it challenges traditional religion that talks about life after death in a much different way. But once you make contact with the other side and have relatives tell you in both the waking and dream state what happens on the other side, you will understand this reality- this truth.

Before going to sleep, ask your relatives to come to you in a dream. (A primary way of making contact). Then listen to the dream and write it down. The deceased will tell you what is going on in their daily life and they will help you in you life. Life continues on after death. Although the transition from this life leaving loved ones will always be difficult, when our time comes, our relatives and loved ones wait for us with open arms on the other side.

The other day, on the massage table, I briefly fell asleep and had a vision. Hands of light, diamond and ruby covered hands were healing me from the other side. In that moment, I was with the healer from the other side. If, at that moment, I had crossed over, that would have been my new reality. It was as real as anything on this side of life. But most importantly, I saw, once again, that there are healers, deceased people who continue to do their work from the other side. Seeing the healing hands of light felt wonderful-it was real. The diamond and ruby covered hands of light were sending healing energy. I awoke and was back in my body with a vivid "dream" a vision of a Spiritual Being of Light with diamond and ruby hands healing me from the other side.

Thank-you and bless you healing hands of Light.

Blessings, Love, Light and Healing on your journey,


Love, Ruth Starseed

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Quick Stress Reducing Tips

Excessive unmanaged stress can and does wreak havoc on the body, mind, and spirit. Running around all day without taking down time not only increases a person’s stress but it can cause illness. I believe that we do have at least fifteen minutes of down time every day for ourselves.

Ask yourself these questions. Why am I taking care of everybody else leaving no time for myself. Why do I run from home, to job, to picking up children, carpooling, arranging children’s social schedules leaving no down time for myself? The answer is you are the last priority on your “to do” list.

We are meant to have down time. Down time gives a person time to think about their life. During down time we ask ourselves questions and we listen for answers. Down time gives us a much needed rest. Having a reasonable amount of quality down time every day written down in a Day Timers just like you would write down an important meeting on the calendar, is a must for your health and for your well-being. Without it you run the risk of increasing your stress.

Quick stress reducing tips.
Breathing- Close your eyes. Gently, put your attention on your breath. Mentally, follow the air in through your nose and down your throat warming your body. Exhale slowly. When your mind wanders, bring your attention back to your breath. Do this anytime, at your desk, at home for 1-3 minutes. Then relax naturally.

Meditation-Close your eyes. Breathe. Follow the breath, inhaling, exhaling, slowly, telling yourself to relax. Let the word “Relax,” come into your mind. The word Relax will drift out of your mind and in again. Effortlessly say Relax, Release. Relax, Release. Relax, Release. Meditate for 15 minutes to 20 minutes one time a day. Slowly, bring yourself out of meditation taking from 3-5 minutes.

A Progressive Relaxation-Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Begin breathing, inhaling, exhaling, gently and with awareness. Begin with the bottom of your feet. Tighten, and then relax your feet. Move your attention up your body to your legs, belly, buttocks, neck, shoulders, arms, face, gently tightening, holding for a few seconds, and then releasing. Sit quietly. Take from 3-5 minutes, and slowly open your eyes.

Love, Healing, Light and Many Blessings.

Ruth Starseed

http://www.RelaxationInternational.com

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Healing Crisis-Take Charge of your Life!

Whenever I go into a healing crisis, my natural default mode is panic. Then, I mobilize all of my energy, and begin a rigorous self-help detox program, move the stressors out of my life (promising to be more vigilant to keep them away) and before I know it, I feel more in control. In my life, nothing makes me feel more out of balance then a health issue. Yet, every health crisis always opens new doors. I wish it could be another way like- new doors open without the health crisis. I tell myself that it is definitely in my astrological chart; natal Saturn in Leo on the 7th house cusp now retrograde for the rest of my life in the sixth house of health. Well, to me, a person who loves astrology knows that says it all. So when transiting Saturn in Scorpio squared my natal Saturn in Leo-voila health crisis-and like always, with it a promise of a new door opening. A new and very exciting door! The new door for me is a vigilant program of juicing two times a day, (all organic, kale, carrots, apple, celery, fresh ginger root and garlic) raw foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, prayer three times a day, meditation two times a day. Walking, swimming, and a week in Florida coming up at the Hippocrates Health Institute. I can’t wait. Here’s what I get to look forward to:
1-Lectures on health and healing and alternative modalities by leaders in the field (my field)

 2-Superior nutrition through a diet of organically grown, enzyme rich, raw, life-giving foods.

 3-Detoxification

 4-Colonics

 5-Far infrared saunas and steam room

 6-Ozone pools with dead-sea salts and Jacuzzi

 7-Massages

 8-Bio-energy treatments

 9-Counseling

 10-Stress evaluation

 So my question to myself is this; why do I wait to do these things? Why do I need a health crisis to wake me up? Anyway, that’s history. From now I pledge to do more of this every week and to go down to West Palm Beach Florida to Hippocrates at least one time a year!

Love, Healing, Light and many Blessings.

 Ruth Starseed

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