Donice Valentine

Brilliantly Creative

2012-02-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

This month my girls began taking art classes and I had the opportunity to participate with them. Wow, it was a truly incredible experience! I walked away from the three hour class saying to myself ‘YES! More of that please!’

Here I was, thinking I was doing my girls this great favor by enrolling them in art lessons and secretly hoping they would walk away from the class with an extremely positive and inspiring experience around art and I got to experience the very thing I wished for them!

When things like this happen, waves of appreciation and gratitude for the Universe’s uncanny ability to inspire and delight me ripple throughout my being.

May your days be infused with feelings of “Yes! More of that please!”

A bouquet of dancing, playfulness, hugs, laughter, and love,

Donice

New Years - 2012

2012-01-08T12:11:00.002-05:00

I’m not particularly big on New Years resolutions but this year I’ve made two.

1. To take time to communicate more clearly in my day to day interactions.

2. To enjoy my life’s journey.

While preparing to post this in my blog, I realized that both of these resolutions fall right in alignment with my passion test that I compiled a couple of years ago while reading the book The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood.

Ahhh… I so do appreciate when things come together. *big smiles and warm fuzzies*

Wishing you a year filled with big smiles, warm fuzzies, loud outrageous laughter, soul healing, magical moments, bliss, squomfy comfy hugs, and loving kisses,

Donice

The Dandelion Said What?

2011-11-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago I walked past a dandelion growing in a sea of grass and it seemed to say “Grow and thrive where you are planted.”

Hmmm… I thought. That’s a loaded message. (Thinking about the numerous times over the past several years I had longed to live some place else – some place I might ‘fit in’ better – you know the grass is always greener on the other side kind of mentality!)

So, I pondered some of the qualities I knew off hand about a dandelion.

• It’s a plucky little flower which grows where ever it pleases; with-standing all kinds of weather and pesticides.

• Its roots are hardy.

• I still love blowing the dandelion puff and sending my wishes off into the Universe.

• Some people consider it a pesky weed.

• Some individuals believe it is an essential plant to keep in your yard to keep other pesky things out.

• Despite being considered, in today’s society, a weed it has wonderful healing qualities.

• And some people even think its leaves taste quite yummy in salad, tea or cooked with just a little butter and salt!

• I’ve always been fond of the Dandelion – a definite carry over from my childhood. To me Dandelions are sun gems; shining all around at my feet.

• Standing in a sea of Dandelions conjures up the same feeling of being surrounded by and infused with Spirit as I feel when I stand face to face with the sun. (There’s nothing more soothing to my soul than to stand face to face with the sun, be wrapped in its warm rays and feel its essence being absorbed into every cell of my being. Having this experience with the sun simultaneously creates a physical reaction within my body one of heightening my senses and my becoming keenly aware of Spirit enveloping me.)

Hmm…Yes, it was definitely a loaded message.

Having reviewed the list of things I knew made me curious about what Ted Andrews says about the dandelion in his book Nature- Speak. Ted’s insight into nature has nurtured my soul for several years now and what I learned in his book about the dandelion was no exception.

Here’s a little taste of what Ted has to say:

        “Dandelion
           Keynote: find beauty where you haven’t looked; look beyond the surface.
           …Dandelion teaches us that there is worth and beauty beyond what is visible and
           apparent. It teaches us to look beyond the surface of things. Dandelion is a weed
           with great qualities – including color and vitality. Is there something of color and
           vitality that we are missing around us?”

Yes, my little dandelion friend spoke volumes to me.

I relish the moments when nature encourages me to stop and delve within – to re-examine beliefs and thought processes that may no longer serving me to my highest and best interest. The gentle nudge from nature is sometimes all that I need to change my perspective and allow myself to find new ways of nurturing myself.

My wish for you is that you find new ways of nurturing yourself and find beauty within and without.

Much Love to you today and always,

Donice

Savoring Moments: Interludes with Spirit on Our Wish Radio

2011-11-03T15:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had the honor of being an infusion guest on Our Wish Radio speaking about my debut inspirational book Savoring Moments: Interludes with Spirit.

Listen in: http://www.ourwishradio.com/2011/11/savor-the-moments-with-donice-valentine-on-our-wish-radio/

Savoring Moments Now Available

2011-09-06T14:15:00.003-04:00

Hello Beautiful Souls ~

Great News. Savoring Moments: Interludes with Spirit is now available for purchase through CreateSpace estore, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Yay!

Heartfelt gratitude for everyone's loving support.

Much Love to you all.

Hugs,

Donice

PS. Copies will soon be available to purchase through a bookstore near you.

Finding Love... in all the right places

2011-08-25T11:35:00.002-04:00

I've been on an inward journey the past few months. In waiting. Gestating. This poem marks the beginning of my emergence. The birthing of Love.

Bathed in Love :: YouPublish

I Don't Care

2011-06-29T08:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my son had an orthodontic appointment and I usually enjoy taking him to these appointments because it gives me a chance to grab some me time while I wait, but because I had remembered the appointment 10 minutes before he was supposed to be there and I still had to drive one of my daughters to a summer enrichment program, I was stressing big time and rushed out of the house without grabbing my ipod.

So there I was, instead being able to continue listening to my book, I was stuck with whatever the office had to choose from for magazines. Ugh. Most magazines don’t interest me but my curiosity was piqued by the July 2011 Oprah Magazine’s cover – Oprah lying on a blanket on the ground smiling as furry pooches surround her. I began to skim through its pages and came upon this article titled I Don’t Care.

Here is what sucked me in: “How do you get your nearest and dearest to change their behavior? Love them unconditionally, says Martha Beck. And how do you do that? Simple: Stop giving a damn what they do.”

Wow!

My son’s appointment rapped up too early for me to finish the article so I resolved to pick up a copy for myself. :) And I did! And I read it to my husband who loved it too! :)

I Don’t Care is a great read and an awesome tool to add to my toolbox; not just for when I interact with others, but in self-dialoged as well.

Here’s to Loving more and caring less.

May your days be filled with more Loving.

~Donice

Do You Find Yourself Worrying? A Lot?

2011-02-10T12:38:00.000-05:00

“Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don't want.”

--- Abraham

Excerpted from the workshop in Asheville, NC on Saturday, September 5th, 1998 #711
Our Love,
Jerry and Esther
http://www.abraham-hicks.com/

This quote from Abraham really hit home for me.

Why?

Many years ago I began this pattern of worrying about stuff -all kinds of stuff- big and small. And what happened was, more and more things came into my life to worry about! What a HUGE energy draining and headache making machine that was!

Several years ago when I began my spiritual journey I read about how putting my focus on my worries actually created more issues so I began the process of releasing that unwanted behavior.

Now, I would love nothing more than to tell you I became an expert at not worrying, but the truth is that even though I had made some progress – well actually quite a bit from where I used to be - I still found myself worrying! What the heck!?

About a year ago I realized that while, yes, it was true that I had made huge improvements I was still lacking faith in Divinity to work things out to my highest and best interest.

This revelation sent me on a new healing journey with Spirit. I put together a 30 day plan and began implementing it.

And here’s what I learned:

Spirit’s got me covered. – Even when I do some times worry a bit.

And

Spirit has an awesome way of working things out better than I ever could have imagined! :)

How cool is that?!

I can relax, and put my energy into using my imagination to create abundantly love filled experiences.

Do I do this all the time? No, I’m human and back slide.

The neat things it that now that I am more aware of how powerful faith is, as soon as I realize I am worrying I stop myself, hand it over to Spirit and put my focus else where.- some times I do this several times before it’s all said and done.- And that’s okay, because I know that every time I change my focus – even for just a few minutes - to creating some thing I do want in my life I am allowing Spirit to lead.

So my wish for you today – whether you worry just a little or a lot - is that every time you are tempted to worry, you use your brilliantly creative mind to focus on something you do want to create in your life.

Much Love to you,

Donice

Holding the Divine Flame In The Darkest Night

2011-01-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered how important you are?

Find out in Holding the Divine Flame In The Darkest Night a beautiful article written by my dear friend Stephanie Beeby.

http://stephaniebeeby.wordpress.com/

"Beauty in You", Karen Drucker (c) 2007 TayToones Music

2011-01-20T09:07:00.000-05:00

YOU ARE THE FACE OF GOD

2011-01-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

A CRY FOR HELP

2010-12-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

“I’m defective… I’m an awful mother… I’m tired of feeling my feelings… I’m a horrible wife… The world would be better off without me…” Six years ago these were the thoughts that looped endlessly in my head. I felt hopeless and longed for the pain to end; to be free from my internal hell.

I was reluctantly taking anti-depressants to help with post-partum depression. Instead of getting better, things just seemed to be getting worse. I was angry with myself. Years ago I had promised myself I would never have to deal with depression again and yet here I was dealing with the same old crap.

Ever since I was very young I’ve known that I have a sixth sense and that God gave me this gift so that I could lead the life I was meant to. But it felt as though all the people around me were telling me that my instincts were wrong. I didn’t feel I had the guts to stand up for what I knew was a part of me. Instead, I began second guessing myself and tried to ignore my instincts.

Over the years I had longed for joy and peace. But now, I’d given up. I was emotionally drained. There was no place to hide. No escape.

As I decided to end it all, I was torn between the thought of ending it - feeling no more pain - and the thought of having to live the rest of my life on meds for depression and anxiety.

Growing up I had always thought I was going to live a really happy life. But in my despair I felt my dream was gone. Especially when I felt the only way to be a good person was to please others.

I sobbed as I wrote my goodbye letter. “Yes,” I thought “I’m doing the world a favor.”

Then, for a moment, I thought, “Maybe there is some kind of God out there that can help me.” Aching, I cried out. “If there truly is some kind of God, any God, even the one that I hate right now, please intervene in some way.” I waited for a sign.

Tears still streaming down my face I began to accept that there would be no miracles today…no, today I would be saying goodbye.

Right before I was about to commit suicide, some questions flowed into my head. “What if I could live a happy life on anti-depressants? What if I could be a better mother and wife on meds than I had ever been before? What if it was okay that I was defective? What if…?” These were totally foreign thoughts for me! I wasn’t sure I could trust them. But a sense of calm came over me the more I thought about the questions.

With these new thoughts rolling around in my mind, I decided to take a drive. And after doing so, I decided to give life one more chance.

I surrendered to the pain: to being defective, to the fact that I wasn’t in control.

From here, I went on to see therapists, went on stronger meds, and I began taking baby steps toward listening to my instincts. I allowed new possibilities to enter into my life and reconnected with my old friend Mother Nature.

Since then I can honestly say that while some of my journey forward has been bumpy and painful - and occasionally still is - being true to myself is the most rewarding experience ever.

Following my heart has filled my life with more love, joy, and peace than I ever dreamt possible.

So why am I sharing my story with you?

Some one recently shared with me that she feels she is broken. Hearing this made me realize that it was time to share my story with others. And it is my hope that in doing so, it might create a space for you to ask “What ifs?” about your situation.

To all of you who are reading this and feel broken -

Your pain is real. Your despair is real. You know your experience more intimately than anyone else.

And while it may not feel like it right now, you are surrounded by immense LOVE. An unconditional LOVE that is far greater than anything you have experienced to date. A LOVE that sees you whole, healed and complete. And it can be felt anytime, anywhere.

Right now, in this moment, I invite you to think back to a time when you knew you were meant for greatness; when you knew your life would be filled with peace and joy. You had a dream and you could feel the truth of it in your entire body.

I invite you to remember, that the life of your dreams still exists.

Allow your dream to come true.

YOU ARE LOVED JUST AS YOU ARE. Feel free to be YOU!

All My Love to you ~

Donice

“Angels surround you and hold you in their arms as you cry. They are by your side as you eat, work and sleep. They walk by your side, stride for stride. Each moment, hoping that you will once again feel their presence, ask for their help, and feel their deep LOVE for you.” ~ Spirit

Women On Purpose

2010-10-15T14:40:00.000-04:00

A woman with a purpose, that’s me! Well, that is, to some extent. You see, I have this burning desire to be of service to world and yet at times feel totally lost as to what that service entails.

So you’d think I would have jumped at the opportunity to attend a FREE Women On Purpose Tele-summit where 18 of the world’s most successful women would be interviewed by my dear friend Laura Rice.

Nope. Not me.

I was wallowing in a HUGE funk space. And was feeling very discombobulated with so many aspects of my life.

Over the course of a few weeks Laura sent me a couple more friendly reminders about the tele-summit and I still vacillated! I kept reminding myself of all the tele-calls I had signed up for in the past and never listened to. And of how right now just wasn’t a good time for me cuz I was feeling so out of sync with my life.

To my surprise, right before the summit was to begin, I decided to sign up. At first I wasn’t really sure what to make of what I had done. I kept asking myself why I had done it. Then I thought well, just maybe I’ll listen to a couple of calls.

When the time came for the first call… I didn’t listen. When the time came for the second call… I didn’t listen.

Then, for some reason, and I’m still not really clear on what happened, I decided to listen to the recording of the calls I had missed. WOW! The first call sparked something in me that encouraged me to listen to the next call. And it was in that call that Spirit came forward and provided me with clarity on my next step. I found a place of calm and reassurance. A shift occurred. The curtains of my funk began to lift and I surrendered to the empowering support.

Since then, each call has inspired and enriched my life. Each call offers it's unique insights and tools, which I can instantly apply.

Heartfelt gratitude to Laura, the amazing women in this series!

Hey~ if you are looking for inspiration, support, new tools~ it’s not too late to sing up! And it’s not just for women! Several men are a part of the calls as well. :)

Learn more by going to: http://www.purpose2prosperity.com/summit/

Self-Nurturing

2010-08-08T10:39:00.001-04:00

The past few weeks every fiber of my being has been screaming for more self-nurturing. No I’m not talking about food. ☻ Trust me, my body gets plenty of that. The kind of nurturing I’m talking about is taking time to just be. To allow my being to assimilate and process the daily barrage of input it receives.

So this week I have decided to devote to honoring that internal plea for rest and rejuvenation.

In this spirit I’d like to share a video clip by Dr. Judith Orloff.

Whether self-care is an old hat or a new concept for you, Dr. Orloff offers valuable insights.

Much Love to you~

~Donice

Recycled Baggage?

2010-06-07T13:04:00.001-04:00

So you’re going through your day and feeling pretty good. You’ve been greeting people you meet with a smile. Opening doors for moms carrying little ones and just plain feeling happy.

Then…a friend calls you on your cell phone and just like that your mood takes a shift. You start to feel down. You begin to think about the various lack in your life.

You notice the shift. It feels yucky.

You want to get back to feeling joyful and light. And so you begin thinking ‘where the heck did those feelings come from?’

So, just where did those feelings of lack and sadness come from?

Old baggage.

We all have it. It comes from just living what we call life.

Some baggage we are aware of and some baggage is buried deep within our subconscious mind. And the littlest things can trigger any of it. But what’s really awesome is that we can transform that baggage into beautiful gifts.

Can't I ‘get rid’ of my baggage?

Well, I’m not really sure anyone does. The events that transpired within your life will always be a part of you. It’s part of what makes you, you. But there are ways to handle your baggage, which will alter your life.

Go on…

With enough practice and patience baggage can be recycled into personal empowerment.

‘Yeah right!.’ I hear you saying.

But it’s true. Well at least for me. And I’ve got a pretty good feeling that if I can do it, so can you. It’s just a matter of setting the intent to make that shift and then keeping your eyes open for ‘tools’ to show up.

What do you mean ‘tools’?

Tools can be routines, affirmations, or anything else that you implement into your life. These implementations then assist you in creating shifts. Some times the shifts are extremely noticeable and other times very subtle. Shift size is not important. Baby steps are always good. And sometimes we have to take a lot of baby steps before we make huge leaps.

Where do you find these ‘tools’?

Great question.

There are numerous brilliant artists, authors, coaches, and mentors in the world offering inspirational ways to recycle your baggage. The key is to find ones that align with your values and lift your spirits. And then practice, practice, practice. ☻

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Abraham-Hicks ~ www.abraham-hicks.com
Andy Dooley ~ www.andydooley.com
Dan Hanneman ~ www.blockbustyourpath.com
David Morelli ~ www.enwaken.com
David & Kristine Morelli ~ www.everythingisenergy.com
Dharmadevi ~ www.reikiblessings.com
Doreen Virtue ~ www.angeltherepy.com
Joel Osteen ~ www.joelosteen.com
Karen Drucker ~ www.karendrucker.com
Laura Rice ~ www.purpose2prosperity.com
Laurel Bleadon-Maffei ~ www.illuminatingsouls.com
Louise L. Hay ~ www.hayhouse.com
Mike Dooley ~ www.tut.com
Stephanie Beeby ~ www.stephaniebeeby.com
Sonia Choquette ~ www.soniachoquette.com
Tony Robbins ~ www.tonyrobbins.com
Wayne Dyer ~ www.drwaynedyer.com

As you recycle your baggage always remember….

♥ Be open and willing to be a student.
♥ Be open and willing to believe in yourself.
♥ Be gentle with yourself.
♥ Baby steps lead to huge leaps.
And…
♥ You are always supported and LOVED by Divinity .

Much Love to you dear friend,

Donice

Do You Ask Others Before You Do?

2010-05-25T15:09:00.000-04:00

Does a cardinal ask if it may sing?

He certainly didn’t ask me as he sang perched near my windowsill.

Does a flower ask if it may bloom?

Not in my flower garden.

Does a raindrop ask if it may fall?

It would seem kind of pointless amid the rainfall.

Does a butterfly ask if it may dance from flower to flower?

Who would know better than her?

Today, I encourage you to follow your heart, embracing your brilliance within….

♥ Be your dream.

♥ Be your hearts desire.

♥ Be brilliantly bold.

♥ Be filled with joy.

♥ Be one with Source

♥ Be love.

And…

♥ Be you as only you can be.

Winds Of Change

2010-05-13T09:59:00.001-04:00

Change.

Does anybody really like change? Even when it’s good change?

I don’t know about you but I have a tendency to become quite complacent in my everyday life so that when something comes along and upsets the ‘apple cart’, so to speak, I tend to balk. And sometimes I have even been known to pout! ☻

Change means giving up some form of comfort that I have experienced for a certain period of time. It means having to adapt to a ‘new’ way.

A new way can cause upheaval in not just one area of my life, but numerous areas! Leaving me feeling vulnerable and out of control.

So how can I handle change?

For me, with the recent changes that are about to transpire within our family I’m stepping out into ‘unchartered territory’….Well that is, it’s a relatively new concept and way of living for me.

And while it is true that I have taken this concept ‘for a spin’ on some previous changes and events in my life… it’s pretty safe to say that I have just ‘nicked the tip of the iceberg’ of what I call my life.

What is this ‘new’ way of living I’m speaking of?

Trusting Source.

That’s right. Trusting and having faith that all changes that show up are in some way, some how, in my families and my highest and best interest.

Wow! That is so huge for me.

Especially when I stop and think about the ripple effect of just one change. Maybe I’ll have to put on some blinders for a while so I don’t get too freaked out over it all…☻ And so that I can keep my focus where it really needs to be and that is on trusting Source. And reminding myself that all is indeed well.

So what’s the big deal?

If I stop the whirlwinds of my mind and allow myself to feel the energy of the changes, I can sense their gentleness. The energy of change, in and of it’s self is neutral. And along with the gentleness of the change I can sense the calming support of Spirit surrounding my family and me.

I can sense that all will be well.

But then, my mind kicks in and says ‘Hey, what the heck are you doing? Do you know how serious all these changes are? Have you really contemplated every single little detail of these changes? Have you thought about all the other changes that will come about because of the initial changes? Have you? Have you?....’ My mind is relentless in it endeavourers to devour my serenity.

So how do I control my thoughts?

Well, that’s a toughie.

Yes it is true that as we are consciously thinking about something we can make a choice regarding what we wish to think. But when we slip into ‘cruise control’, which by the way we do over 90 percent of the time, our subconscious mind automatically takes over. And while this is really awesome in almost every way, it can really stink as well.

Why?

Because it can undermine every thing we worked so hard to consciously ‘control’. Especially if buried within your subconscious mind is a belief that differs from the one you are consciously trying to activate.

With this in mind I realize my efforts, to relax and stay focused on trusting Spirit, are limited to my conscious thinking and that I have place my faith wholly in Source. Trusting them to handle every single detail.

And then I have to move forward. Not looking back at what used to be, but focusing on the beauty of what could be. Allowing the change to lift me to new and greater heights. Taking me on a journey beyond my wildest dreams.

How can I do that?

♥ Practice. Practice. Practice.

♥ Taking it one day at a time.

♥ Moment by moment.

♥ Being gentle with myself as I move forward through the changes.

♥ Forgiving myself when I have a lapse in faith and start to freak out.

What will this do for me?

♥ Here I allow myself to be in the flow of what could be an incredible dream come true.

♥ This is where I’ll be empowered to move through the changes with ease.

♥ Here is where I am given the opportunity to surrender my ‘control’ to Spirit. Trusting them to work it all out.

♥ I can relax knowing it is all-well.

♥ Here is where I can find harmony.

Much Love to you, my dear friends, as you move forward through your winds of change.

~Donice

Shine Your Light

2010-04-16T10:47:00.001-04:00

"You must each be a lamp unto yourselves." ~ Buddha

How often do you actively search for that which makes your heart sing?
Something that lets your light shine?

Too often, I think, we settle. We settle for doing what others say is the ‘right way’. The ‘right way’ to parent, to work, to dress, to furnish our homes, to be sprititual, to be a life partner, and to learn.

Inside we sense when something doesn’t feel quite right, but we shun it.

Why?

Because we don’t want to ‘rock the boat’. We are afraid of change. Afraid of what others might think and say. Or we just aren’t quite sure what it is we are looking for. So we settle. Settle for less than what our life could be.

Why?

Because, something is better than nothing, right?

That’s something only you can decide.

Do you know what you want your life to look like?

If you could be any kind of parent, who would you be?

If you could pick any career, what would you do?

If you could dress how ever you wanted to, what would you wear?

If you could choose any furnishings, what would you pick?

If you could choose any spirituality, what would it consist of?

If you could be any kind of partner, who would you be?

If you could choose any format for learning, what would it be?

Deside today what it is you want.

Deside what it is you want and begin living it. Live it fully.

Begin shining your light. Shine bright.

Set off on your exploration.

Who’s Got Intuition?

2010-04-09T11:38:00.000-04:00

Everyone!

That’s right, each and every individual has been blessed with the miraculous gift of intuition. How? Just by being a child of God. He gave it to us as a part of our birthright. He placed it within us at conception. And it formed within us, as we grew nestled in our mother’s womb.

As a baby you utilized your intuition all the time. You knew when you were hungry, and you let your caregivers know. You could sense your family’s love for you and you smiled and laughed. You could sense when certain people made you feel uncomfortable and you cried or turned away. You could sense when your mother was happy. And when she was sad. You could sense so many, many things.

While growing up, some individuals are always conscious of and connected to their intuition. And they follow it without question. Occasionally, a loved one nurtures some of these individuals intuition. And now and again those whose intuition is not nurtured, have this inner knowing that drives them forward despite what others may say.

Then there are those, who have allowed themselves to be influenced by the beliefs of others. When they sense that someone else’s belief system isn’t for them, they keep utilizing that belief system because they think ‘how could all these other people be wrong?’. When they sense someone is not being honest with them, they choose to trust another person’s impression of that individual over their own. When they get that gut feeling that their body needs rest, they keeping pushing forward because that is what they have been taught to do.

So just how connected are you to your intuition?

Are you still aware that it is there?

Do you follow your ‘gut feelings’ sometimes and not other times?

Do you wish you had a stronger connection with your intuition?

One of the quickest ways to rekindle and strengthen your intuition that I have learned is to always follow your intuition no matter what. That’s right. It’s that simple.

Doing this sends a very clear message to your conscious and subconscious mind (and for those of you who are studying the Laws of Attraction, it sends a clear message to the Universe). It says: I trust God. He gave me intuition as a gift to help me make wise choices. I believe in me. I trust myself to be guided by my gift from God.

Remember, the more you actively follow your intuition the more accurate your intuition becomes.

Then, if you would like to have an idea of just how accurate your intuition currently is, keep a mental note or journal of all the times you were correct. Focus on all the times your intuition was accurate. Don’t worry about the times you weren’t. Chalk those instances up to the learning curve. Or the fact that sometimes shifts take place, which can affect your original impression.

And again, remember, the more you actively follow your intuition the more accurate your intuition becomes.

So what are you waiting for?

Begin listening to your intuition today. ~ ☻

Additional Resources:

The Wise Child: A Spiritual Guide to Nurturing Your Child’s Intuition by Sonia Choquette, PH.D

Trust Your Vibes: Secret Tools for Six-Sensory Living by Sonia Choquette

The Power Is Within You by Louise L. Hay

Everything Is Energy Radio Show ~ www.everythingisenergy.com

A Sneak Peek Inside Savoring Moments: Interludes With Spirit

2010-04-07T10:17:00.002-04:00

Sit quietly in a comfortable spot. Take a long deep breath and let it out slowly. Take another long deep breath and slowly let it all out... As you continue breathing deeply imagine God wrapping His arms around you, holding you and whispering the words "I love you, you are so very special to me." Think about how it feels to hear these words. Notice how your body feels having heard these words.. Feel the love and warmth that comes with these words. Notice how wonderful it feels to be held in His arms. Continue to experience this feeling until you can feel the love spilling over you. As the feeling pours over you, thank Him for His words of love; and thank Him for the wonderful feeling of love you felt as He held you.

For more information about the book Savoring Moments: Interludes With Spirit by Donice Valentine and Sylvia Valentine visit www.savoringmoments.com

Yoga

2010-03-26T12:36:00.000-04:00

For years I toyed with the idea of actually taking up yoga. Friends were taking it, and spoke quite highly of it. Books kept coming across my path about it. And for a while it seemed as though everywhere I went I was seeing something that was reminding me to jump in.

Did I? No.

So why not?

Oh, I had a whole list of reasons not to begin. There was the time I enrolled in an exercise class and found myself humiliated by not being able to keep up and feeling as though I ‘looked like a fool’. My limited flexibility. The exercises looked too hard. And where would I ever find the time? This was just a few of the ‘good’ reasons I came up with.

As the years drifted by, occasionally I would still have the urge to give yoga a try. A few times I even took a small step toward beginning. I rented some yoga DVD’s, bought a couple of yoga DVDs and a yoga book.

Each time I began, without fail, I would do it for a few days and then become so sore that I would quite. I would then once again resigning myself to the self-defeating thought that possibly I just wasn’t cut out to do yoga.

Sound familiar?

Finally, one day while I was irritated over the discomfort in my lower back I said ‘You know, Donice, I think it’s time to take another look at yoga.’ Oh, sure the naysayers in my minds balked right away. But I didn’t listen them because I knew I had only a handful of choices on how to deal with the pain I was experiencing. And the only one that was really appealing to me was yoga.

But what yoga format would be best?

I decided I would pull out my Ananda Yoga, Yoga to Awaken the Chakras, DVD that I had used while taking a class. Yes it had been a bit advanced for me but I liked the idea of doing yoga and clearing my chakras at the same time. So I set about finding it. But could I? NO! It was nowhere to be found!

Frustrated that my morning was slipping away from me, I wondered what I would do. Then I recalled a book that my dear sister-in-law had given me many years ago that had yoga poses in it. I had used it once or twice and then shelved it.

As I ran upstairs to collect the book I wondered if I should do it with or without music. I decided to do it with and that my Maharishi Gandharva Veda, Rain Melody, CD would compliment my yoga session nicely.

Back down stairs I unrolled my purple yoga mat, laid the book titled, complete guide to pilates, yoga, meditation & stress relief, next to the mat, turned on the CD and began.

As I looked at the various yoga positions, I decided I would be very gentle with myself. I chose only poses that I knew I could easily do and then gingerly stretched into them. Trusting that my body would let me know when the stretch was complete, I proceed through my customized workout.

Once the workout was completed I took an assessment of my mind and body.

How did I feel?

‘Ah’, I sighed. It was the most blissful experience I had ever had with yoga.

I was hooked!

Since then I have gradually incorporated a few more poses, an invocation, affirmations and connections with Spirit. And my flexibility has increased (No, I can’t do the lotus flower, yet ☻).

Yoga has enriched my days. Providing additional grounding, which in turn allows me to be a better version of me! Yeah! Isn’t that what we all want? To be the best we can possibly be?

So, what would I say to anyone thinking of beginning yoga?

Do it! And if you haven’t found a yoga format yet that resonates with you, keep looking. It’s out there.

Much love to you ~

~Donice

Just For You

2010-03-24T12:12:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning as a whirlwind of questions swept through my mind, I had this thought:

‘You Are Safe... You Are Whole... You Are Exactly Where You Need to be to Align With Your Divinity.’

I took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief as I released the tension that had been building within me for several days. And I smiled thinking of all the LOVE that surrounds and fills me.

It was a very good way to start my day and today, as I once again contemplated the beautiful words, I felt compelled to share them with you.

Namaste

Life’s Little Lessons From My Friend the Skunk

2010-03-18T12:15:00.004-04:00

A couple of weeks ago as I went for a walk around the block with my son’s dog, Fidget, a medium sized skunk ambled out from a secluded driveway. I tightened Fidget’s leash, stopped dead and prayed that the skunk would just keep walking.

Now as you know, skunks are nocturnal animals so I was very wary of her daytime jaunt. I knew we could out run her if she started coming toward us. But I couldn’t recall how far skunks can spray. We were only three or four feet away from her. And the thought of dealing with skunk spray on either of us did not appeal to me.

I held my breath. Fidget remained calm. I hoped we were invisible.

As we stood motionless watching her cross the road, she could have cared less that we were there. Now I know she was aware of us, yet she never once glanced at us. Nope, she just went on her way. Skunk on a mission. She crossed the road and strolled into the empty lot on the opposite side of the road. Once there, she shnuffled around some clumps of grass as if looking for some thing to eat, and then sauntered on toward the shrubs at the back of the property.

Nature has an amazing way of providing answers to life’s puzzles. Sometimes Nature replies in a subtle way and some times in an in your face way. Like with the skunk. I knew as soon as I saw her, she had a message for me. It was just a matter of listening. What was she trying to tell me? What was she showing me? So I observed and inwardly became silent. The fact that she never once looked at us struck me. I thought, ‘How confident of her. She knows we’re here and instantly recognizes that we pose no threat. So, she stays focused on where she’s going.’ I liked this and thought ‘that would be really cool if I could do that.’

So why don’t I? Good question! I contemplated that question for the rest of our walk.

We finished our walk. And the encounter with the skunk stayed fresh in my mind all day. Throughout the day I mulled it over in my mind. And referred to my favorite animal books, Animal Spirit Guides, by Steven D. Farmer PH.D. and Animal Speak by Ted Andrews to see what further insight they had.

There were many messages from my friend the skunk. But the ones that really hit home were:
1. stay calm and focused even in the face of adversity.
2. trust that I am capable of accomplishing what I set out to do without interference from others.
3. I have all the equipment I need to manage a confrontation.

Yes. Her little amble across my path had shown me that I was expending energy, unnecessarily, on worrying. Worrying about people and events that I know Source can handle. All I need to do is focus and have faith. Focus on aligning myself more fully with my souls purpose and move forward in faith that my Creator has my back.

What an unexpected blessing she was.

This morning, as I thought about sharing this event with you, I came across a couple of quotes that made the lessons stick all the more. And I’d like to share them with you.

Is there a real source of fear? No. Is there real fear? Yes. It is inside you, and you are the creator of it. You give birth to your own fear. Under the fear, however, is life, which allows you to create and communicate whatever you want.

This is the unconditional loving of Spirit, allowing you to communicate and do whatever you choose, with your body, emotions, and mind.

- John-Roger
(From: Relationships: Love, Marriage and Spirit, p. 121)

…This is what faith is all about. You must believe it before you see it. You need to act like you’re blessed, talk like you’re blessed, think like you’re blessed, dress like you’re blessed, walk like you’re blessed, treat people like you’re blessed.

- Joel Osteen
(From: It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God’s Favor, p 89)

Now, if the skunk were a person, I would give her a big hug and thank her. But alas, she’s a skunk. So I’ll just send her a big mental hug and thank you. And a big thank you to our Creator.

Free Distance Meditation Circle

2010-03-11T09:33:00.004-05:00

Please join me Tuesdays at 10:00 am (eastern standard time) for a Distance Meditation Circle.

Wherever you are, just take 5-30 minutes to join into the relaxing, rejuvenating, supportive and healing energy of meditation.

No need to sign up, just join in this session by using your intention. That is all.

If you wish to join, just close your eyes right now for a moment and mentally say that you intend to join this free distance meditation circle and want to be included. Then, on Tuesday @ 11:00 am (eastern standard time) wherever you are take a deep breath, close your eyes, relax and allow the energy to flow.

Not sure how meditate? Relax. Keep it simple. Focus on your breathing. If you find your mind wandering, relax and just shift your focus back on your breathing. (For more information about beginner’s meditation check out my article titled: Simple Meditation)

Are you an old pro at meditation? Beautiful. Join us with your usual meditation or mix it up with something new.

Everyone is welcome.

Looking forward to seeing you on the inside ~

Many Blessings,

Donice

I would love to hear about your experiences. Please feel free to share them with me here or via my email: donicevalentine@verizon.net

Simple Meditation

2010-03-11T09:29:00.003-05:00

When I first started meditating it was extremely important to me that the mediation was simple. My life seemed so chaotic that even the thought of taking time to meditate was stressful. So I took baby steps towards meditating. And that is precisely what I recommend to anyone who is interested in beginning to learn the joy of meditation.

The following meditation is one of the simplest meditations I have come across to date. It’s about 15 minutes in length. (Tip: set a timer or alarm so you can fully relax and not constantly wondering when your time is up. ☻) If at first, you find it too stressful to do the meditation for the entire 15 minutes, start out with 5 minutes. 15 minutes can seem like an eternity when you are not used to meditating or taking time to just relax and do nothing. So take it at a pace that is right for you. Then as you begin to feel more comfortable try slowly incorporate a little more time.

If possible, find a quiet place to do your meditation. If you can have it completely quiet, it is helpful, but it is not imperative. Finding a completely quiet place when you have small children can sometime be quite challenging. So, if your little one has given up naps and you need to do it in the same room as them, sit them down and explain that you need them to be as quiet as possible for ‘X’ amount of time. And then ask them to please not interrupt you. Let them know this is your quiet time. They might even like it if you tell them you are putting yourself in ‘time out’. You may need to remind them a few times during your first few meditations and that’s okay. Be creative and light about it. Children can be unpredictable and the whole experience will be more enjoyable for the both of you the more you can relax and let it unfold naturally. On the other hand if you think your child would enjoy joining you, by all means let them join in. My children love to periodically join me as I meditate and these times hold an entirely different quality to them.

Once you begin your meditation focus on slowly breathing in and out. Breathe deeply at first and find a depth of breath that feels just right. If you find your mind wandering you can try counting your breaths, chanting a word or phrase, or listen to something soothing. It is quite natural for the mind to take off on it’s own agenda and when you notice this happening gently bring your attention back to your breathing, counting, etc. Do what feels most natural and comfortable for you.

Sit somewhere comfortable and if possible wear something comfortable. (The more comfortable you are the better. You may lie down, but only if you tend not to fall asleep while doing so.)

Pause.

Now, close your eyes and allow your breath to flow naturally.

Pause.

Notice your body relaxing as you slowly and deeply breathe in.

Pause.

Allow your entire body to relax.

Pause.

Now, breathe slowly in and out… Notice how your body becomes more relaxed as you do so… (If for some reason you are uncomfortable at this point, please take a moment to make any adjustments.)

Pause.

Listen to your breath as it goes in, and out.

Pause.

If your mind starts to wander, just bring it back to your breathing.

Pause.

It is natural for the mind to wander – so just relax and allow the natural flow to take place.

Pause.

Stay here with the focus on breathing until time is complete or until you feel you are ready to end the meditation.

Note: Once you have tried the meditation a few times play around with accessing the feeling of meditation anywhere you are during your day (except if you are driving) by slowly taking a deep breath in and out a few times and thinking of how you feel while you meditate.