IT’S ALL ENERGY

We are affected by energy every moment of every day. Scientists tell us
that all physical matter is really just energy, and quantum physicists
tell us how consciousness and intent determine what is created on a
physical level.

We often feel the energies around us – the aura of the person sitting
next to us who is in a bad mood, the awe-inspiring presence of a large
oak tree in our favorite park, the spirits lingering in an old, vacant
building, the joy of a small child playing with a puppy.

Many of us are very sensitive to these energies, whether it is the
emotional energy of someone close to us, or even the energy on a global
level. Many of us could feel the entire nation’s shock, grief and
confusion of during 9/11, for example. I have read some people who are
so open and sensitive to the energies around them, that they have a hard
time coping with being out in the world.

No matter how sensitive you are, you can protect yourself from overload,
and that has to do with focusing in on your own energy. This often
entails being aware of where your energy is (your aura) and validating
that you can be in charge of that. Sometimes our intention and beliefs
are what need a little “tweaking.” For example, if our intention is to
own our personal energy space, this can help us feel more in charge.

Here’s a tip for when you feel like you are being too affected by outside
energies: Close your eyes, and imagine a rose. Move that rose to the
front edge of your aura (energy field), with the intention that this rose
will protect your space from energies that are uncomfortable. It’s all
energy – you just have to own it! © Jill Miller 2006

BALANCING YOUR KARMA

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to think about what one wants to
create for the next one. And as I think about creating anew, I also start
to think about what blocks I may still be holding onto. Our past life
karma can be such a block.

In the past life readings that I do, I’m privileged to get a glimpse of
how karmic ties can affect us. I recently did a reading for a young
woman (who I will call Sue). She was having trouble with her mother, and
I saw a past life they had shared that most definitely affected their
relationship now. She told me how her mother never seemed to have enough
time for her and always put her own emotional needs before her
daughter’s, even when Sue was a young child.

In the past life, Sue was a wealthy socialite. She lived in a large
mansion with many servants, held many dinners and events, and was always
the life of the party. Sue’s mother was her daughter in that life. She
often felt in the shadow of her mother (Sue) and often ignored. Her
complaints went unheard and she felt abandoned by her mother.

Interestingly, when Sue was older and on her deathbed, she wanted her
daughter there but she never came. She realized, a little too late, how
she had treated her daughter and felt guilt and shame about it. She
realized for the first time how her daughter must have felt – yearning
for some attention, love and support.

Spiritually, they made an agreement to come back together again this
current lifetime, but to switch roles. Sue was now the daughter and
wanting to make amends. She had been trying to make up for the previous
life, staying close to her mom and always trying to please her. Her mom,
on the other hand, was still a bit emotionally “stuck,” had never
forgiven Sue, and was intent on paying her back. I also saw that they
had lived other lives as well where they had played out these same karmic
issues.

The thing about karma is – we can heal it. We can allow ourselves to
learn from our relationships with others, and to let go of guilt, shame
and anger from the past lives we’ve shared. I watched as Sue
energetically started to let go of her part of it, started to change
their agreement as spirit.

As the new year begins, think about looking at your relationships with
new eyes as well. Ask yourself if your “contract,” or spiritual
agreement needs updating with that person. Be in the present moment with
them, letting go of past karma and creating something fresh and new. ©
Jill Miller 2006

SPIRIT-TO-SPIRIT
As a psychic reader, I have the opportunity to communicate with spirit –
whether it’s with someone’s spirit guide, a loved one who has passed over
or with the person themselves that I’m reading.

We are all spirit – some of us currently have bodies and some don’t! I
was watching Wayne Dyer recently and he said something like – “we are not
humans living a spiritual existence, but spirit living a life of
humanity.” I liked that. It validates that first and foremost we are
spiritual beings. We existed as spirit before we were born, we exist as
spirit now in the body, and we will still exist as spirit when we are
finished with this body. In a reading I try to focus on the true spirit
of the person I’m reading – to communicate “spirit-to-spirit” with them.

The communication with those who don’t have a body is fun too. Just like
those of us with bodies, I find other spirit like to be recognized as
well. Those who have passed over want to be validated for the
experiences they are having and almost always welcome the opportunity to
talk with their loved one they left behind. Spirit guides too are quick
to communicate. They tell me what purpose they hold for the person, how
long they have been with them, and may have some words of advice to share.

When I communicate with spirit, I sometimes get images that I then
interpret, other times it is more of an intuitive/feeling-type
experience. But more often than not, I just hear them speak.

How do I do that? Well, the key is grounding and quieting down and
allowing yourself to be in a “listening” space. Try it sometime! © Jill
Miller 2006

CHAKRA AWARENESS

Back when I first started doing this psychic stuff, not that many people
knew what a chakra was. Nowadays, it is a fairly common word and most
folks know that chakras are energy centers in the body and may know that
there are seven main chakras.

Fewer people, however, fully understand the significance of the chakra
system and how the condition of our chakras is directly tied into our
physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and vice versa.

Here’s how it all works: Say you’ve been promoted at work and are given
new responsibilities. Maybe you are wondering if you are up to the
challenge ahead of you. Uncertainty and worry begins to set in, and you
notice that your stomach has begun to bother you. Your physician would
probably say that the stomach upset is caused by stress, but I believe it
goes even deeper than that.

What often happens when we are not feeling very self-empowered, is that
our third chakra (located in the stomach area) begins to tighten up and
shut down. The third chakra contains information regarding how we create
what we want in our lives and how much in control we feel over our
circumstances. When your “power” chakra is only running at
half-throttle, so to speak, you may start to experience stomach upset,
fatigue and maybe even a sense of helplessness.

But, by changing the energy in your chakra, your sense of insecurity and
even your stomach ache may disappear. It can be helpful to sit down and
focus on the chakra, allowing it to relax and visualizing it opening back
up. This will help you get your energy back and start to feel capable of
the task at hand. Remember, by receiving a chakra cleansing, or by
learning to release energy from your own chakras through meditation, you
can begin a valuable self-healing process. © Jill Miller 2007

PARTNERING WITH YOUR HIGHER SELF

There are times in our life when we think, “Why can’t I figure this
situation out?” or “is there a higher purpose to all of this?” We may
feel like the universe is dealing us an unplayable hand or have a problem
that seems too complex to figure out. We may even sense that there is a
part of us that knows the answer, but we just can’t seem to tap into it.

We really do have the answers to all of our quandaries, as we are divine
spirit with our own infinite knowledge and spiritual wisdom. By tapping
into our “Higher Self,” we can gain understanding – whether that is
regarding what to do in a certain situation or in figuring out what
lessons there are for us.

The Higher Self is that part of us that sees the bigger picture – the
part of us that understands what our life path/purpose is and what
direction to take to stay on that path. Unfortunately, when we are born,
we often forget why we came here. We are busy figuring out how to be in
a physical body and how to relate to the world around us. We may take on
others’ beliefs or let our egos get in the way, and forget that we have
the ability to heal ourselves.

The great thing is that our Higher Self is always there with us and
communicates to us through many means – through our intuition, gut
feelings and hunches, or through symbols and unexpected events and people
coming into our lives. Our Higher Self wants to be heard and wants to
help us. I mean, who better to guide, direct and give us advice than our
own Higher Self?

Your Higher Self is not very far away, even if it feels like that at
times. When you start to ask the right questions and trust your own
answers and instincts, your life can start to change. “But how do you do
that?” you might ask. The first step is to calm, ground and quiet
yourself down. Think about what you really want to know (formulate the
correct question). Ask for the answer and be open to recognizing it.
The answer may come to you in the form of a dream, a passage in a book, a
friend’s comment, a symbol (such as seeing three eagles in one day, for
example), or directly hearing your own inner voice during meditation.

We were all born to live our lives as the fullest expression of who we
really are. Partnering with our Higher Self can be the key to
manifesting all that we can be. © Jill Miller 2007

CHANGE WILL DO YOU GOOD

“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” – Author Unknown

As I move my business from my home to its new professional space, I’m
more and more aware of how one seemingly small change can have such a
ripple effect. This move is not just affecting the energy of my
business, but also my personal growth, the energy in my home, the energy
of my son who lives with me, the energy of my clients, and even the
energy of the neighborhoods (both old and new) – all for the better, as I
see it. As Sheryl Crow sings, “Change will do you good!”

Of course, it doesn’t always feel that way. In fact, sometimes change
can feel quite dreadful. We may experience a sense of sadness or loss,
fear or confusion. Even when we have instigated or wished for a
particular change, it’s not always easy. As French writer Anatole France
said, “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for
what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life
before we can enter another.”

For example, maybe you decide to move to a bigger house. You are excited
about the new place, of having more space, and of being closer to work.
But, as you start to pack you are caught up in the memories of the good
times you had in your old home. It’s the place where you raised your
children, the place where family and friends gathered for holidays and
birthdays. There is a letting go and grieving that is necessary in order
for this new change to take place. It’s like watching our children grow
up – we are sad to see the sweet little one-year old disappear as a “big
girl” replaces her. At the same time, we are excited to see her world
expand as she grows and changes.

In spiritual growth, it can be the same. As we change our belief
systems, start to heal ourselves and raise our energy consciousness, we
bring about more awareness. We may be more aware of how negative
energies affect us, where our blocks and/or emotional pains may
originate, or how many more lifetimes we may still have to come back for!
As they say, “Ignorance is bliss,” and sometimes it’s not easy becoming
more spiritually or psychically aware. We may at times be more
comfortable with and miss our “old” self – that is until we get
accustomed to the changes we have made.

But, as much as we may resist change, life without it becomes stagnant.
I find change exciting and invigorating. As much as taking risk is
scary, it’s doubly rewarding. So, get comfortable with your changes,
learn to embrace them and let go of the fear of what lies around the next
bend. You’ll be much happier as a result. © Jill Miller 2007

THERE’S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift.” –
Author Unknown

When I was in my early twenties and beginning my spiritual quest, one of
my favorite books was “Be Here Now” by Ram Dass. He taught that being
fully aware of ourselves in the present moment was the path to spiritual
enlightenment. Not that much different from the more current teachings
of Eckhart Tolle, author of “The Power of Now.”

Both books have made me think, what does all that mean – to be in the
present moment, to be enlightened? I’ve discovered that it means
stopping the chatter of our minds and experiencing our true selves. Our
true selves are divine spirit, not holding onto what has happened in the
past or filled with anxiety over what is going to happen in the future.
Let’s talk about the past. All of us, at one time or another, have
become stuck there, Maybe the past seems much more pleasant than what we
have going on now. Do you know someone who always seems to be talking
about the good old days? Most likely they are not happy with their
current life, whether it be their work or relationships. Or maybe our
past contains painful experiences that we find difficult to let go of or
release. Do you know someone who had a hard time in the past and never
seemed to get over it? In either case, letting the past hold our
thoughts and energy can keep us from being fully self-empowered in the
now – able to create what we want in our lives.

How about the future? We can get our energy stuck there as well. It,
too, can be a way of avoiding our current life. Know someone who talks
big about what they are going to do next, but yet you never see them
actually accomplishing anything? Or sometimes we can be so afraid and
worried about the future that we become paralyzed and never take any
steps forward. Either way, focusing too much on the future can take us
away from the true business at hand.

Our power lies in the present moment. This is where we can truly create
change and growth in our lives. The mind, or ego, likes to think it’s in
control. The more we obsess about the past or the future, the more our
“thoughts” tell us we are getting a handle on things – we’ve got our
pride over things accomplished in the past and a sense of control over
what the future is going to bring. This is an illusion. It is our very
“being” that is the creative force behind manifesting, not our ego.

You may ask then, how do I get more into the present moment? Start by
paying attention to where your energies are. Notice when you drift back
to the past or jump ahead into the future, and gently bring yourself back
to now. Feel your body, listen to the sounds around you, experience a
good, strong breath in and out. Be happy to be alive in this moment and
feel the power that that brings with it.

Meditation can be key in quieting the mind and feeling yourself as
spirit. One technique is to sit in a chair and imagine yourself
connected to the earth through your body. Visualize a tree trunk or
light beam extending from your body to the earth. Next, repeat the
words, “I am.” Your thoughts about a past conversation or what you are
going to fix for dinner may intrude now and again, but just bring
yourself back to “I am.” With some practice, you will experience the joy
of just being. © Jill Miller 2008

FEMALE POWER WITHIN

I read recently that during the “Holy Inquisition” some three million
women were killed within a 300 year period. The men in power during this
time were threatened by the intuitive, creative, healing power of women.
Whether she was a midwife, the village healer, or thought to be a “witch”
for some other reason, she was seen as dangerous and something that
needed to be destroyed.

Luckily, at this time and in this country, we are free to be ourselves as
women. We can allow our abilities and strengths to be seen by others.
And although the chances are becoming slim at this point, we have come
closer than ever of having a female President. That gives me hope that
we will see it happen in the not too distant future (I hope in my
lifetime).

So what is this female power many, men and women alike, seem to be afraid
of? I believe it is a force all of us women have dwelling within us. We
are nurturing, creative, feeling, psychic creatures! When we need to, we
can be gentle, and we can be strong. We can be patient; and we can be
assertive. We can heal others, and we can heal ourselves. Our power
lies within being our authentic selves.

Why have we lost our true selves? Because we have bought into limiting
beliefs about who we are. We have been raised to believe that we are the
weaker sex, that our power is somehow “bad,” and to keep our power hidden
(and our mouths shut). Some of these beliefs have come from men; some
have come, unfortunately, from our own mothers and grandmothers. For
most of us, we can become easily distracted by all we “have” to do for
others. We can become filled with guilt at the mere thought of taking an
afternoon off for ourselves. We are convinced by others that we are
being a “pushy bitch” by just asking for what we want. It is time to let
go of these beliefs and get more in touch with who we really are.
Because the more we reclaim our authenticity as females, the more of a
healing force we become.

And wouldn’t you say that this planet needs some healing? The male and
female energy of the planet has been off balance for centuries. With the
freedoms we have now, there is an opportunity for the pendulum to swing
back into alignment. I know we can do it. But we need to stop being
afraid and allow ourselves to move forward. Until we as women stop being
afraid of our own power, men who are also afraid will continue to try to
crush that power. We need to be grateful for the supportive men in our
lives, and brave enough to shake some things up!

It all starts with healing ourselves. As you work on yourself, as you
clear the blockages in your body, and release limiting beliefs and
thoughts you have about yourself and your life, you will realize your
power is glorious – something to be celebrated. As each of us take that
step, the ripple effects will be amazing. © Jill Miller 2008

Third Eye Sight – Seeing the Truth

Learn to see, and then you’ll know there is no end to the new worlds of
our vision. – Carlos Castaneda

We all have the ability to see a truth from a lie, which is part of the
function of our sixth chakra, or “Third Eye.” Have you ever had someone
make a statement with a smile on their face but “see” that there is
another intention behind the words? You were using your clairvoyance –
whether you were consciously aware of it or not.

If we all have the ability to see a truth from a lie (which we do), you
may be asking why is it that we sometimes get fooled? Or why don’t we
see the truth until sometime later? As they say, “Hindsight is 20/20.”
I think it goes back to being human and wanting to believe that everyone
is truthful, that everyone is nice and has your best interest at heart.
Letting go of thinking it’s a perfect world can be very freeing, however.
It can open the door to forgiveness.

Another reason we don’t always see the truth is because, quite frankly,
the truth isn’t always pleasant. It isn’t always what we want to see or
hear. If we are pretending that everything is alright, but it really
isn’t, that can be hard to face. But facing the truth is where healing
and growth can start to take place.

Finding our own spiritual truth is vital to our personal growth and to
experiencing true joy in our lives. I believe that most of us have been
given, at one time or another, information about what spirituality is
which doesn’t fit for us now. We may have been vulnerable as young
children to the teachings of the elders in church, or to our parents’ and
grandparents’ religious beliefs, or to a spiritual teacher or group that
we gave up space to. And these beliefs may not be your truth now.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to
search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no
one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of
truth.”

I believe everyone has the right to their spiritual beliefs and that it
is important not to judge another’s truth. By the same token, it is
alright to release others’ truths that don’t resonate with our own
spirit.

Part of this process starts with validating your own truth, and starting
to discover and examine what that truth is for yourself. Meditation can
play a key role in this self-discovery process. Say, for example, you
have been wondering whether reincarnation is valid or true. In a
meditation, you could start by examining all that you have heard or read
about the topic. You could make your intention that you will release
everyone else’s belief or thoughts (their energy) about it that don’t fit
for you in present time. For release work, I like to visualize a
grounding “cord” that goes into the earth where I can let energy go. You
may have images, thoughts, and feelings come up around the topic – that
is part of the process. As you release everyone else’s energy, you can
then start to ask yourself what is really true for you.

The Third Eye is about having clear vision or insight. Use it to
uncover your own vision for yourself – seeing the truth of whom you are
and where you want to go. © Jill Miller 2009

GOIN’ WITH THE FLOW

“Life flows on within you and without you” – George Harrison

As I am preparing for another big change (moving into a new office
space), I’m reminded of the importance of “goin’ with the flow.”  Even
when you think you have the best laid plans, life happens…something may
not get completed on schedule, someone may get sick, and you find
yourself hitting a few glitches.  I find when this happens, it’s
important to notice my own reaction to it.  Because I’ve found going with
the flow has more to do with my inner sense of balance than with what is
happening outside of myself.

Say, for example, you wake up grumpy…maybe you didn’t get enough sleep,
or maybe you had bad dreams, or have let stress build up.  It seems on
those days, things only get worse.  You stub your toe on the way to the
bathroom, you’re out of coffee filters, and you burn the toast.  On top
of that, you can’t find your car keys and when you finally do get on your
way, every traffic light is red.  And the day just continues on that way…

Lao-Tzu, the father of Taoism, said, “Life is a series of natural and
spontaneous changes.  Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow.  Let
reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way
they like.”  I love that!  And I believe that a key to flowing with
life’s natural rhythms is to be non-resistant.  As soon as we quit
resisting and let go of trying to control things, the energy frees up and
things start to move with fluidity.

You may ask, why do we resist?  Sometime it’s because we want things to
be perfect and we have fear of making a mistake.  We may start to feel
that other people and things have control over us, which could lead to
anger and frustration.  If we can let go of the anger around things not
going our way, then our own energy starts to relax and we start to
manifest a more relaxed energy around us.  We seem to be a society of
well-trained resisters!  It may help to examine from whom did you learn
the art of resistance…parents, siblings, teachers?   It’s okay to release
and let go of old habits.

Another thing that can be helpful in “goin’ with the flow” is to start
your day in a more calm space.  Meditation and inner reflection can help
us be more in touch with what we are feeling inside.  Notice if you are
out of balance, or if you are holding onto resistance.  You can start to
release the resistance you are carrying before it gets the better of you.

So relax and enjoy life.  Because if you just spend your time and energy
resisting the flow, you may miss out on some wonderful opportunities!
© Jill Miller 2010

HEALING OPPORTUNITIES

Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you. – Peace
Pilgrim

Have you been moved by a speaker, inspired by someone else overcoming an
obstacle, or had your day brightened by a child’s smile?  Every day, we
provide each other with opportunities for healing, and those healings
come in many different forms.

No one really has the power to heal you, because unless you are open,
receptive and ready to release, change cannot take place.  Therefore, I
believe all healing is really created by the person being healed.
Others, however, can give us the best opportunity for growth and healing.
We can all be a tremendous help to one another by assisting with energy
movement and shifts in belief systems.

In the last couple months, I have had an unusual number of women clients
who have, in their readings with me, asked about their aging mothers,
many who are experiencing some type of dementia.  Now, I don’t believe in
coincidences…and know within myself that these readings are a gift to me
as I am dealing with the complexities of my own mother’s journey with
dementia.  Every one of these readings has been a healing opportunity for
me and my personal growth, and I’m very grateful for them.  Each one has
given me insight into myself and my mom – our emotions, our struggles and
our spiritual contract, or agreement.

We have all had the experience of someone else being instrumental in
changing our mind or opinion about something.  I saw a TV show not long
ago where a middle-class, strongly Christian man agreed to live for a
month with a Muslin-American family.  He started the process thinking
that he had nothing in common with them.  He quickly learned that they
had the same family values, the same work ethics and even the same God!
As he wore their dress and observed their customs with them, he also
learned about prejudice, and then about tolerance and acceptance.

Sometimes even someone who we find antagonistic, egocentric, or rude, can
provide us with an opening for real change.  In truth, an enemy can be
the greatest gift of healing.  They teach us understanding, love, and
forgiveness if we are ready to receive those gifts.  As the Dalai Lama
said, “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

So next time you are wondering why a particular person came into your
life, or why you have attracted an unpleasant person to yourself, ask
yourself where is the healing opportunity?  What are they stirring within
your own self that you can now release some energy around?  Every person
we meet is a mirror in some way or another.  Be brave enough to look back
at the image you see.
©Jill Miller – 2010