A Note From Anne

Dear ,

I live in a green haven. Recently we had rain and the austerity of winter disappeared. The trails I walk are draped with overhanging trees and vines that create green arches. I used to live in a less than affluent, tree-starved neighborhood. I would walk and imagine living in an area that was full of trees, trails, lakes, and ponds. I would feel the excitement of life and listen to the whispering wind blowing through the trees. I didn’t focus on the type of house I would live in; I focused on the experience of nature. I pictured living a good life and felt that goodness seeping into my core. I loved those Memphis walks. I spoke to neighbors near and far. We jabbered, and through those twenty years I felt an amazing sense of community and felt the good life right where I was planted.

Now I live in the place I pictured. I walk those trails, bike on nearly forgotten roads, and avoid copperheads. Even the name of my town speaks of nature – The Woodlands. What a life. Spring marks more than a change of a season; it is a time that erases the past. Easter speaks of that new life. It is the resurrection of that which seemed dead - a new beginning. Long ago, Christians used to wear new white clothes at Easter to mark this new beginning. This is the season for fresh starts and new beginnings. It doesn’t matter how sick you are, how old you are, or how miserable you are; life is offering this new start to you. Life is calling, practically yelling, issuing you an invitation. It is patiently awaiting your RSVP. Will you attend?

Anne

  Money Talk

“The question here is not, ‘Do you have enough money?’ Rather, it is, ‘Is your life contained and balanced within the money you do have?’” Stuart Wilde

Recently I revised an article on money. The magazine editor asked me to expound on a couple of issues. I wrote and rewrote, but when I revisited his email, I realized he only wanted a sentence or two for clarification. I had gone too far. I sent the revisions, but a list of insights remained. I liked the list and hope you are enjoy reading about the forbidden fruit – money.

Money Double Talk

Money is a tricky topic. We live in a culture that simultaneously worships and despises money. It's okay to have plenty of money, but with money comes responsibility. Using money to fuel shopping addictions, to destroy our natural resources, or to gain power is the incorrect use of money. Paying bills, sharing, creating a more sustainable world, and supporting a green economy are more creative and compassionate uses of money. Surely it is life supporting to buy healthy food, dress comfortably, and to have some pleasures. It’s the excesses that create problems. I hesitate to share about money because I don't want to fuel the needless spending or hoarding prevalent in the west, but I do want to heal the pain and suffering of the money disease. Bringing money into the spiritual and emotional dialogue is pertinent in today’s world because money plays an important role in life.

Money Insights

My relationship with money was difficult. I lived on the edge of financial survival. I wanted to be about money ease, not money greed. I learned to attract money and to stop making money the central organizing principle of my life. Attracting money required new beliefs and actions. I started a program of money recovery. I had to undo old money messages, redo my beliefs, and heal emotional wounds. Maybe the following insights, new beliefs, and behaviors will serve you in healing your money baggage. It’s cool to be money neutral so as not to become intoxicated when money flows and depressed when money slows.

• Money Worry - Money worry is drama. I had to drop money worry. Every time I started worrying about money I made my mind stop and go to a quiet place. Worrying about the lack of money is a form of financial anorexia.
• Money Innocence - Wanting money is not bad. Money is not bad. Money is necessary for living in our society. Hating money is not effective. Hating wealthy people creates a subconscious message that repels money.
• Picture what you want – Picture money coming in. Never work on the how to’s of receiving money or where it will come from. Visualize holding checks, receiving cash, credit card receipts, or electronic fund transfers, or Paypal payments. I would visualize amounts varying from $250-$5,000. Those amounts were believable to me. It’s unrealistic to picture something you cannot believe. If you already receive large sums of money but suffer about money, you may not have a receiving problem; you may have a spending problem or irrational fears around money.
• Receive, not Earn - Think of receiving money rather than earning. The idea of earning money seems burdensome, while the thought of “receiving money” feels easier and lighter. It’s more fun to receive money for work than to have to earn a living. Receiving is exciting; earning, not so much.
• You Are Enough – If you think you are not enough, this idea will dampen your spirit. It will make you think you can never do enough or be enough. This idea is the genesis of lack consciousness. This belief is most often hidden in the subconscious mind, but if you run yourself ragged trying to be helpful, successful, or to prove your value by being super productive, you have this belief. If you don’t value who you are, life is going to be hard.
• Abundance Now - Abundance is now; only now. You can’t experience abundance in the future. If you can’t experience the abundance present now, you’ll never be able to experience abundance, even if you have more resources in the future. Now is the only time that you can ever experience abundance. This insight is perhaps the most important one to master. Having money is technical; experiencing abundance now is spiritual. The direct experience of abundance dissolves fear and drama and fills us with peace.
• Act on Your Hunches - Follow through on ideas and hunches. These ideas and hunches often bring money through clients, business deals or investments.
• Don’t Quit Your Day Job – Don’t quit your job if you are cash poor, unless you have something else lined up. Being broke is a miserable condition. Don’t contribute to it by making rash decisions.
• Practice Money Wisdom - Practice conscious spending. Work with a budget. It is important to know how much money you need to pay bills. Save money and have a nice cash reserve for extra expenses. Since our cars, appliances, and houses are not immortal, they will require maintenance. We don’t get advance warning for a mechanical breakdown, but we will have those kinds of expenses in our lives.

Healing money issues is complicated. It requires inner work, resolve, persistence, and the relinquishment of drama. The above ideas provide powerful insights and offer positive actions toward a healthier relationship with money. Manifesting money makes life easier. Attracting money solves practical problems. Manifesting money cannot solve the emotional experience of lack. That’s why just making more money is never the answer. If you are continually financially strapped, then receiving more money is only one important aspect of the healing process. It’s time to face the problems and erase the pain around money.

Putting This in Perspective

The above ideas are not a one size fits all kind of teaching. They are for those who have the luxury of working with their emotional and psychological lives. Those who live in a culture of poverty rarely have the time or energy to work on their existential problems. I don’t expect a mother with three children, who lives in a war-torn country – a woman who rarely gets enough to eat and who watches her husband get dragged off by some repressive regime, to pick up this article and change her life.

However, if you are reading this, you probably have certain advantages. You have power. You have the ability to choose differently, to change, and to heal. You are already fortunate by chance of birth to live in relative safety. You are already lucky. I invite you to expand that luck, to drink in the abundance present now, to heal those old issues you have with money, and to stand in the privilege of your life. It may be a step up for you to claim your abundant life, but it is a step that you can make. Start lifting that foot, and if you do, I promise you, your life will be easier and easier.

Make it easy.

Anne

  Quotes

"One moment of pure perception is enough to slay the ego. Go to that moment now. See how it feels to be free from the past, from the limits of worn-out decisions, old programming, beliefs, and cultural conspiracies."
  – Anne Sermons Gillis

Affirmations by Anne Sermons Gillis:

Down with Drama
"All needs for attention, punishment, or protection, that are accomplished through suffering are dissolved, healed, and resolved. I am free to enjoy the pleasurable treasure of my life."

I Speak Truth
Words flow through me like drops of water from the heavens--healing words, vibrant words. I speak words of compassion and generosity. My words are free of pain and strain. I speak happy living words. I can be authentic and speak my truth. I know when to speak out and when to be silent. I say the right thing at the right time. I don't worry about what to say ahead of time because my inner advisor provides the words as needed. My words point to a deeper truth. So be it.

  Houston Theosophical Society

Anne Sermons Gillis currently serves as the president of the Houston Lodge of the Theosophical Society.

We encourage our members to live a life in service to humanity, in stillness through mediation, and in study of ancient wisdom.

"Recognition of the unique value of every living being expresses itself in reverence for life, compassion for all, sympathy with the need of all individuals to find truth for themselves, and respect for all religious traditions."
   --The Theosophical World View

Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays at 10 AM Central Time in Houston, Texas.

For more information visit The Houston Lodge or visit our national organization at http://www.Theosophical.org.

  Anne's Books

Standing in The Dark

EZosophy

Offbeat Prayers

Click here to see all three of Anne's books

What people are saying about Standing in the Dark:

"Standing in the Dark, by Anne Sermons Gillis, isn't just another positive thinking book. It's a book about the difficult times in life and what we can do to make it through them. It does, however, give us positive ways to make life easier. It's a short book, but it's one that may just turn your thinking on its head, which will probably be the best thing that's happened to your thinking in a long time. It's about how to bring more ease into a life that isn't easy all of the time. Anne discusses six main areas of life: Ease, Mission, Health, Relationships, Money, and Loss."
  – Charles David Heineke

Now available on Kindle. Click for details.

What people are saying about EZosophy: The Art and Wisdom of Easy or at Least Easier Living:

"Although most conscious people understand that life doesn't have to a struggle, the "how to" has been missing... until now. Anne's book makes it "easy."
  – T. Harv Eker - Bestselling author and Founder of Peak Potentials Training

Now available on Kindle.
Click for details.
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What people are saying about Offbeat Prayers for the Modern Mystic:

"I love your book. It is filled with much wisdom, humor and heart. Really beautiful."
  – Alan Cohen author, Enough Already, mentions Anne and EZosophy on page 99

Now available on Kindle.
Click for details.

  What is EZosophy?

Click the graphic above to find out.

NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll to the right to see the other column.

  Anne's Services

  Schedule Anne

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.

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  Anne's Schedule

All times below are Central Time.
Sun., April 27, 2014, 1:00 PM
"Health and Wellness" group
Northwoods Unitarian
Universalist Church
1370 North Millbend Road
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-298-2780

Thu., May 1, 2014, 7:00 PM
"Co-Creators Convergence” Telecall
More information later.

Other Events for Your Consideration

Here are two upcoming spiritual events that may be of interest to you.

Awaken Houston Retreat Flyer

Co-Creators Convergence Conference, Year 2

  Healthy Living

Breathe for Your Life

Healthy living requires a clean diet, exercise, good rest, emotional stability, harmonious relationships, and plenty of oxygen.

As we age, we tend to breathe less deeply. We hunch over and restrict our lung capacity. People who take up yoga and do the breathing exercises are amazed with the results. Yoga expands their breathing capacities and the increased oxygen invigorates their lives. People who are 70 years old get 9 gallons less oxygen daily than people who are 30. That means they get 20 to 25% less oxygen in their blood.

Belly Breathing

In order to get the optimal amount of oxygen, we must belly breathe – at least part of the time. We must relearn to breathe deep into our bellies on the inhale and empty our bellies on the exhale.

Try conscious belly breathing consciously for 2 to 5 minutes, twice a day. Put your fingers on your lower belly and as you breathe out feel your stomach contract. Inhale starting with your tummy and push it out. Notice your breath throughout the day and make sure that your breathing puts your shoulders back so you have optimal long capacity. Usually, when you notice your breath, you'll actually take a deeper breath automatically. You don’t have to force the breath; the breath wants to breathe. When you notice your breath, don’t focus on how tight your chest is; just notice the breathing pattern. Get focused and present.

Belly Breathing Video

For more information, check out this video on belly breathing.

Some people say that if you breathe consciously 15 minutes a day, that you can lose weight. I'm not sure that's true, but I don't think it would hurt you.

Belly breathing and noticing our breathing rhythm throughout the day are easy ways to improve our vitality and strengthen our health. Make the change. Breathe for your life, and your life will be easier and easier.

  Anne Talks

Happy Lighten Up Day by Anne Sermons Gillis. Includes Anne singing her "lightened up" version of Joy to the World. (2:46)

Click for larger image

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Editor/Publisher: Charles David Heineke of TheDoorway.org.

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