Judith E. Lipson, M.A. | Spiral Wisdom

Relationships

Judy Lipson — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:38:00 +0000

Whether you are in a romantic relationship or are examining your friendships, there are certain guiding principles to consider

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

SELF-WORTH

When you find yourself complaining about the people in your life, it may be time to take a look at the self that you bring to relationships. When you improve your self-worth, you are better able to bring your best self to any relationship!

Be strong!

Don’t betray yourself and don’t negotiate your integrity. Compromise is fine when it is done willingly, but don’t agree to something to be “the nice person”.
Advertise your strength: Whether seated or standing hold yourself tall, use a confident voice, breathe from your power center (your solar plexus located above the navel), feel as if your feet are firmly connected to Earth, draw your shoulders down away from your ears.
Know who you are so that you can attract those you want (friends, partners, business associates).
Don’t settle. Don’t tolerate another’s disrespect.
Respect yourself and make this clear to others by how you dress, move and speak.
Your Inner Child might be cautious or angry because of past events. Take care of yourself and your Inner Child will respond. Treat him/her compassionately and assure the Inner Child that s/he is safe now.

When your inner-self (who you are and how you really feel) is in alliance with your outer-self (the person that presents to others), others will respond to your authenticity and you will draw more people of quality into your life. Actively increase your friend base by bringing people into your life that make you happy and support you, just as you support them.

REDEFINING RELATIONSHIPS

Want to change the dynamics of a friendship that you now realize is not good for you, but you still need (or want) to be in relationship with them? The tendency is to look at how the other has harmed you, disrespected you, or used you. And while all that may be true, I encourage you to see how you can affect this relationship. Boundaries are more about you and your expectation than about the other individual. When YOU have the expectation, YOU know that you are defining this relationship differently. This will bring you that authentic ‘power’, which has always been yours.

To actively begin to create this change, consider the following. In each occurrence with this friend you may choose:

Will I go? (Or let them come over?)
Will I participate in this particular topic of discussion?
Will I engage the same way that I used to?
Will I spend as much time as I used to?

Be ready to firmly and politely hold your ground (inwardly, as well as to the other) to uphold the response you want. Remember it is important that it be firm, respectful and calm so that the other can hear your message.

ENDING A RELATIONSHIP

Have you decided that it is time to fully release a relationship? I know it’s hard. You were so happy and you felt so good when you were together. You want it all back: the person, the happiness, the serenity, everything. It seems to all be rolled into one beautiful uncomplicated package: HIM (or her). Of course, you have already forgotten about the complications of your relationship: the disappointments, the arguments, the tension and the drama. What you do want back is your contentment and the buzz of love.

If a relationship has ended and you find yourself pining for the other, recognize that much of what you miss is the exuberance, love and creativity that you felt while you were together. The great news is that this state of happiness, that you feel was lost, is still there. It has been yours all along. Your partner had provided you the gift of being a mirror of who you really are. It’s not the partner who is necessary for you to continue to experience yourself; it’s you.

The ease in letting go comes when you realize that your relationship provided a mirror to know yourself. The warm feelings that you had for your partner were real, but they were also you experiencing your own nature, and the love you have for yourself. It could be this that is missed. It was really you all along. Remember that you don’t need another to make you whole. You never did. A relationship isn’t two people coming together to form one. It is two people who come together to share life. It is within this model that you support each other through life’s experiences and find added opportunities to appreciate yourself. This mirror is the gift that your loved one provided to you.

Now it’s time to reclaim you! Find an expression of your soul’s creativity in activities that used to bring you joy. This might be art, dance, music, volunteering, or time in nature. Any activity that helps you remember your True Self will help you to let go. Welcome back to your life!

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties, work or school related anxiety, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders, and those who wish to Remember and Become ‘Who You Really Are’. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www.SpiralWisdom.net for more information.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Recognize Yourself in the Mirror of Others

Judy Lipson — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 01:24:08 +0000

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

“They’re meant to be mirrors for us, always reflecting back what we need to see. The question is: Do you want to look in this mirror, and be open to what you need to learn, or simply pretend it’s not there and pass it by?” John Holland

I have always found human interactions fascinating, and in my work with clients I can observe and address the many layers of relationships that are occurring. Here’s a sample.

Mirror One: Imago wounds

Some intimate relationships are based on the premise that Dr. Harville Hendrix teaches in his book Getting the Love You Want, A Guide for Couples. Dr. Hendrix, and his Imago Relationship Therapy process, teaches that individuals often select partners who resemble (closely or distantly) the key people, usually from childhood, who created emotional wounds. The premise says that your inner child may have selected someone who subconsciously reminds them of this individual, but this time the inner child is hoping it will not experience similar wounds, seemingly healing the original wounded relationship. Dr. Hendrix further teaches that these relationships (when there is no danger of abuse) can be places to heal, but only when both partners are conscious of the relationship and how they trigger each other. This foundation is paramount to following his additional strategies, and achieving understanding and healing.

Mirror Two: Looking outward to see inward

Ending relationships, whether friendships or romantic partners, can be challenging. I’ve observed some individuals believe their peace, confidence, good experiences, and inner feelings are due to the ‘other’. I’ve watched them hold on tightly to this person, believing that they can only be happy while remaining in partnership. The ending of any relationship will be accompanied by grief of what was, as well as what is wished would be, but what I described above is different as it involves a ‘holding on’ that is not based on grief, but on perceived self-emptiness. The individual has misunderstood the value of the relationship and has missed their own role in how they feel (what they think is gone). What I try to point out is that the partner provided a mirror so that they could see their own strengths, their own beauty, and their own love. Thus, the partner leaving does not take away these characteristics. They were in there all along!

Mirror Three: Finding your shadows

Shadow-work is very enlightening and healing, but it can seem very scary for those who are inexperienced and unsupported. Shadow-work is the ability to look within and fearlessly see the aspects of the self that ‘hide in the shadows’. (Okay, so there still may be fear, but as Eckhart Tolle teaches – running from the shadow creates far more fear than actually looking at it!) For more on working with your shadow you can work with a trusted professional, or read books like: The Dark Side of the Lightchasersby Debbie Ford, or Eckhart Tolle’s The New Earth.

Relationships can help identify some of these shadow aspects. There’s a saying: Pointing your finger at others means that you have 3 of your own fingers pointed back at yourself. In other words, that which you might be judging in others might be best looked at as an area of consideration as a shadow for yourself. This of course isn’t always true, but it seems that the more pinged one is by a judgment of another, the more likely that it is actually pointing back as a shadow of self.

Mirror Four: Opposites often attract

There are times that I am working with a couple or a family and see that two individuals behave as polar opposites. For instance, one parent is the disciplinarian and the other is more permissive. The paradox is that the more permissive the one parent is, the more punitive the other becomes, which then makes the permissive parent become even more lenient in order to achieve a perceived balance, and vice versa. The reality is that at a subconscious level, each chose their partner to help to balance themself. But what I explain to the partners is that the merging of the two opposite styles does not bring about balance. This concept will work with colors: red + white = pink. But permissive + punitive ≠ balanced, healthy parenting. To bring about the proposed balance, both parents must begin to move toward center by actually changing behaviors.

A similar pattern is often observed when one partner is frustrated by the other’s messiness (for instance). Yet what the neat person sought in choosing the partner was his or her own ability to be less obsessively clean, or to have greater spontaneity. And the “messy” partner likely sought structure for him or herself.

Mirror Five: Emulating the characteristics that you admire in others

It’s good to realize that mirroring isn’t just to see the challenges in relationships or yourself. Who in your life do you admire? These individuals can be real people, or characters in a TV show or movie. This might prove to be a clue for identifying an aspect that you wish to adopt for yourself. Study their behaviors, their communication style and even their clothing. What feels right for you? What are you willing to try? Try it on – whether clothing style or personality style, and tweak it from there.

Mirrors for healing

If you are on an intrepid journey for integrity and authenticity, or just want to know yourself better, these aspects of mirror work can be helpful. How else might you use the mirror concept to further influence your own journey of self-exploration or introspection?

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Are You Looking For Your Soul-Directed Mission?

Judy Lipson — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 23:03:58 +0000

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

What is a mission? Interestingly, the Oxford Dictionary offers a variety of definitions. The first is an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes. This is not my preferred definition. On the surface it doesn’t sound problematic, but I prefer the third definition of mission: a strongly felt aim, ambition, or calling.

Over the years I have had an opportunity to speak to many adults. Many are sensing something significant that they are pursuing, and a desire to follow this important path that they are feeling. They have suspected its existence since they were young. The children and teens that I speak to also talk of their mission for this lifetime. What is especially extraordinary is that they have sensed this need from a young age, younger than most of the adults who have expressed it.

I have been writing recently about the kids of the future – those who are paradoxically here today. Have you seen these children on the news? These are compassionate and passionate children with a deep desire to create change, who seem to feel obligated to do just that. (For more information read Hippies, Indigos, Crystal Children, and Beyond).

Have you had conversations with these kids? Have you really listened to them? I recently had a conversation with a young woman who is involved in very important work to change systems. She feels that this work is not just her job, and it is more than a vocation. Her commitment is so strong that her whole being shows up for every conversation, every presentation, and every action. She is an example of our youth who take on missions of grand importance

She and I began to explore together what separates her and her passionate work from that of some others. First she recognized that this is her soul-mission work. As we talked further, we recognized that integrity is the key ingredient. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. I (we) believe that it is the merging of integrity with the mission that makes the work so powerful, so soul-filled.

Everyone has goals in life, work that they do, a sense of a purpose in life. I encourage you to look at your mission and work, as well as the missions/work of those whom you admire. Is it a soul-driven mission? Here are some characteristics, which can be viewed as scaffolding, to help you identify integrity within mission.

THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR MISSION

INTEGRITY OF SELF: Who are you when you do this work? Are you being authentic? Do you bring your whole self to the mission, to the goal, to the assignment? Do you give it all you have while still establishing proper boundaries with others?

INTEGRITY OF MORALS: Take a self-inventory: What are your values, beliefs, and morals? Do you align each aspect of your work with these values and beliefs? Do you make sure that your actions align with your moral compass?

INTEGRITY OF ALLIANCES: Look at the people who require your interactions. How is their integrity? If you believe that they lack integrity it doesn’t mean that you must stop working with them. When possible include people with comparable values on your own team. When you must interact with those with less integrity, note the following: Do you maintain your own moral principles while interacting with these individuals? Or do you feel that the ends justify the means and it’s okay to use the occasional person in order to achieve the mission? Remember the importance of not losing yourself, or your Self.

INTEGRITY OF APPRECIATION / GRATITUDE: Do you demonstrate your gratefulness to each of the people who helps you to achieve your mission regardless of how large or small a part they play? This might be as formal as a thank you card, or as simple as a genuine smile.

INTEGRITY OF MISSION: Perseverance and humility are important characteristics. Look at your involvement with the end goal. It is acceptable for you to receive a benefit from your work, and it’s fine that you enjoy the work that you provide. But it’s important to gauge, “Is it all about me?” or “Is this for the greater good?”

Until the evaluation and the behavior become second nature you might find it beneficial to review your scaffold at the end of each day and at the completion of each task to assess whether you have stayed true to your Self, your integrity, and ultimately your mission.

WHEN YOUR MISSION IS NOT YOUR WORK

Mission is most frequently assumed to be the work that you do. For some of you, your mission is your vocation. For others it is your relationship with the world around you. As example, your mission might be healer. A healer’s vocation could be involvement in animal, plant or human medicine; conventional or integrative; healing the mind, the body or the soul. As a healer you may get paid for your work as a physician, massage therapist, clinical therapist, veterinarian, in an animal sanctuary, etc. When your mission is not your vocation, but your mission is still healer, you may be an accountant, or a store clerk, or not working at all. You could even be homeless and struggling for resources. But each interaction that you have with another living being is filled with light and love, and the individual that you have just been with walks away feeling uplifted.

TAKING IT DEEPER

WALK THROUGH LIFE WITH AN OPEN HEART: Think about those times (not necessarily work related) when everything has felt in alignment. One of the hallmarks of this moment was that your heart was fully open and you were fully engaged with All That Is. Not sure when this occurs? Think about the times when you have been in nature, observing a fabulous sunset, or loving your child or pet. This moment is what it feels like when you are connected with your soul. For some of you this process is less about connecting with others, and more about opening to yourself.

ALIGN YOUR OUTER LIFE WITH YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF: Live all aspects of your life the same way you live your soul-filled mission: in integrity with your Self and your values.

One’s integrity and one’s mission are not just about the paycheck. Look deeper. Are you seeking authenticity? Are you hoping to live your soul’s mission? Consider using the scaffold above to bring integrity to everything you do. Live a soul-filled life.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

A Time of Great Change

Judy Lipson — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 21:33:41 +0000

One seemingly common thread across the U.S., and across political parties has been the desire for change. This article is not about politics, or those differences.

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

We humans are a funny lot. Oftentimes we appropriately complain about our situation – relationship, family, work status, coworkers, etc – and we hope that it will change. But when the opportunity for change actually arises, there is a tendency for the individual to retreat as a fear response, and continue with what is familiar.

I have been fascinated by the acceleration of change that has been taking place over the last decade or more. I have witnessed this acceleration of change in my own life, as well as in my clients’. Children and adults arrive for counseling for a particular reason, yet often learn that there is an underlying frustration or a lack of congruence between their inner self/goals and their outer actions. I help clients to align the two and to tolerate the lack of ease that they temporarily experience in the meantime.

I’ve seen many children and adults over the last few decades who are feeling a pull to something different and know that there is something more. Are you one of them? Here’s what you might be experiencing:

You see the world differently than many others seem to.
You feel a stirring or a quickening within.
This quickening might leave you feeling agitated or nervous or excited or frustrated: Why is it taking so long?
You observe the big picture, the layers, and the greater patterns.
You recognize the need to care for or improve systems (education, healthcare, etc), or Earth herself.
You feel incredibly frustrated by the slowness of change.

Some feel this quickening or in-congruency on a more personal level. You might not even identify that the in-congruency exists. Together we look at what is wanted, and how to receive or achieve it. These patterns may look like the following:

You too frequently say yes when you wish or need to say no.
You are afraid that your ideas will be ridiculed.
You experience the world as a Sensitive – highly attuned to one or more of the five senses.
You may be empathic – you not only feel bad for the other person (sympathy), but you can imagine yourself experiencing their feeling or situation … as they might be.
You may have intuitive abilities, premonitions, or dreams that don’t feel like dreams.

I have been enthralled by the following observation: When people begin to recognize and understand their true, authentic self, and then develop the congruency between their inner and outer worlds, many anxiety patterns are alleviated.

Let’s talk a little more about this time of great change. Besides the observation of so many individuals who are experiencing this desire to change big patterns personally or globally (or somewhere in between), it seems that the time we are living in is accelerating and accentuating this sensation. So if you are a way-shower or change-agent in this lifetime, even if you do not yet know it, you are feeling the pull. You may have felt – though not understood – this difference since you were a child, and it’s being accentuated and accelerated in this time in which we are living. Instead of looking back in history from the future to see that it occurred, some are identifying it now. The intuitive and empathic people that I mentioned earlier are often the ones who feel it and see the signs. They may feel the changing alignments of the planets (as described by our astrologers) and/or the pull of energy that our way-showers can recognize.

A time of great change is not to be feared, even though that is our tendency. Remember, neither different nor uncomfortable is bad.

This may seem paradoxical, and for some of you it may seem uncomfortable, but find the common threads that are shared within our different faiths, ethnicities, race, gender, sexuality, political parties and views. The first common thread is that so many of us want change, and are feeling the pull at varying levels. You can feel more grounded during these times of great change through acceptance and understanding, and by seeking to live more authentically and personally empowered.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Hearing Your Own Voice; Owning Your Own Voice; Patience

Judy Lipson — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 19:23:39 +0000

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

What do you know about patience? Patience is the virtue that allows you to listen to your higher soul, attend to your inner voice, and bring integrity to your thinking and actions. Have you learned how to listen to your inner voice? Do you see how patience is required to do so accurately and effectively?

Patience in action allows things to slow down. When you engage in an activity with patience you direct your mind to be in the moment and to address what is right before you. You have felt the world slow down, and when it does you resonate with that sensation. This is the experience of being in the now. Unfortunately, most people only know this experience (described as “time just stood still”), as the result of a very frightening crisis like a near traffic accident. The good news is that you can access this state of consciousness without a crisis, and therefore without anxiety.

In our society, most people recognize that they function from a “monkey mind” – jumping from one thought to another – and proud of every opportunity to multi-task (whether it’s effective or not). But when you slow your mind to focus on one thought or activity at a time you will note that your inner being becomes calmer and slower, which allows you to slow your outward movements as well. The irony is that the more you slow your mind, the more efficient your actions will be.

The good news is that it is not hard to slow your mind and to hear your inner voice, but it does require practice because you are developing a new pattern.

First, develop patience. Begin a practice of daily focus in the now. This can be meditation, prayer, movement, time in nature; it can even include chores – if you focus ON the chore and not on the monkey-mind that is excited to have been unleashed.

Become increasingly aware of times that you squelch your message and replace it with what you believe you should say or do. My favorite analogy for this comes from the movie The Runaway Bride. Julia Roberts’ character had to finally determine how she likes her eggs (she formerly ate her eggs the same way that each boyfriend did).

Another example was portrayed more recently in the new FOX TV show Pitch. The lead character finally became empowered when she was reminded to listen to her own voice when determining who she wants to be and what she wants to do.

Are you still not sure about hearing your own voice and discerning its truth? Check your inner compass as you listen to the messages of others that are being pushed upon you, or that you think might be your own.

What do you think about it?
What do you believe about it?
How does it make you feel? Does it help you feel nurtured and safe?
How might others be affected? (This is not the only criterion, but in light of certain recent socio-political statements, I think it bears mentioning.)
Were you provided information (so that you may make your own determination)? Or instructions (for what to think and what to do)?

Another interesting consideration when you are striving to follow your own voice is to determine if you are avoiding shame. Shame in this context has been viewed as an evolutionary tool that encourages you to hide so as not to be kicked out of your community. In earlier times, to be kicked out would place you in danger of not surviving. This is not necessarily true today.

Patience is a virtue that affects everyone. Your patience may even be strong when you relate to others, but different when patience is needed for yourself. The more you hear yourself, trust yourself, and follow your true self, the less angst you will experience about waiting for what is to come.

If you have not yet begun the process to establish your own voice, think about what can be gained. You will feel more authentic, increase confidence, and may even achieve a change that you sense is coming. And since you are simultaneously working on patience, when you feel that urge to make the change, you won’t feel like you need it NOW.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Remembering…And Becoming…Who You Really Are

Judy Lipson — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 03:17:43 +0000

Are you ready to live your authentic life?

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

The next time you are in the presence of an infant or young child observe the authenticity with which they approach life. If something brings pleasure, they fully radiate joy, and if something is not making them happy, they will certainly express that as well. The real beauty is that they can swiftly return to joy with incredible ease.

Many of you inadvertently lost touch with your authenticity after the socialization process. Seemingly insignificant conversations might have affected your ability to know and remember yourself. An example might be when you were told to hug your visiting aunt. When you said that you don’t like getting close to your aunt, the adults in your world insisted that you ignore your feelings and go hug her anyway. Each time you saw yourself discounted for the ‘greater good’ there was the potential to lose a bit of your authentic self.

Another common situation was when, as a child, you were intuitive or knew things that your adult caregivers didn’t remember, didn’t believe, or feared. Could you see auras? Did you know things about people? Could you predict the future? The child is reliant on physical and emotional safety from others, so you may have discounted your abilities and suppressed them in order to be or feel safe.

As an adult you can understand the bigger picture that you could not know or understand as a child. Now you can understand that adults did not know better. Had they known differently, they would have acted differently; had the child understood that they could have maintained internal and external integrity, they would have.

Recognize that your inner child still reacts to these original experiences. Intentionally rewrite your internal dialogue to reflect your new, more expansive understanding. Change your beliefs and change the paradigm; give your authentic self the permission it has been craving to be expressed.

BECOMING AUTHENTIC

Are you ready to return to your authentic state? Indigo children and adults, and the autistic clients I see, seem to have a head start on authenticity. Indigos live life emphasizing the importance to not suppress. They have a trait, which our societal paradigm describes as rebellious, that doesn’t tolerate inconsistency. When understood accurately, Asperger and autistic clients demonstrate a verbal honesty and congruence between actions, speech and their inner experience.

Maybe you have recognized the desire to be authentic as a thought:
I want to live life more fully.
I am ready to do what I’m here to do.
I want to be who I Am.
I sense that I’m to do something significant.

To become Who You Really Are – a Spiritual Being having a Human Experience – it is necessary to integrate the Spiritual with the Human. These traits include:

CONSCIOUSNESS: Open to the possibility of knowing. This is more than your brain’s memories and knowledge. This is accessing your intuition and your gut instinct. It is not necessary to force this connection; it is already available.

COMPASSION: Bring the heart and brain into energetic alignment and cooperation. Consider Heart Math’s Quick Coherence Technique: Focus your attention on your heart. Now have your breath focus in your heart. Then, remember a very positive emotion to bring about Heart Feeling. Repeat this sequence.

VESSEL: Your body is not the enemy. It allows you the opportunity to experience All That Is. This is a difficult concept for Sensitives who experience frequent sensory overload. Learn to accept your body and to use its sensations as a method of communication.

Have you been living your life with the focus on one to the exclusion of the others? It is not uncommon to see clients who wish to focus exclusively on meditation and spirituality, who emphasize the cerebral, or who focus primarily on the body to the exclusion of the rest. None of these aspects are bad. Your goal is to find balance for all.

BENEFITS OF AUTHENTICITY

As you learn to speak and act in congruence with your values and personal needs, you may notice that your core anxiety diminishes, which increases inner peace. Authenticity can also affect your self-worth.

Living an authentic life allows you to live life in flow and in Oneness. When you stop seeing the world from the polarity of separation the veil of illusion is lifted. Your fears and worry will reduce intensity or cease to hang on. From this place of greater peace, authenticity and oneness, you can then spread peace and love.

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties; work or school related anxiety; ADHD; Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders; and those who wish to Remember and Become Who You Really Are. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www. SpiralWisdom.net for more information.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care.

Lightbody, Lightworker and Ascension

Judy Lipson — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:14:51 +0000

Whether you are new to these concepts or are quite familiar, they are all part of

Remembering and Becoming Who You Really Are

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Lightbody, Lightworker, Ascension: My goal is to explain these trending concepts for individuals who have never heard these terms, as well as to provide more extensive information for those who already have familiarity.

Remembering….

LIGHTBODY describes the awakening to Awareness that so many are experiencing at this time. It is the process of bringing more Light, in the form of Divine Intelligence, into your physical form, thoughts, energy field and your life experiences. Light is Goodness, Divine Knowledge, and Harmony. This Light floods our whole being and begins the effects or sensations that may be experienced as a result of the physical body trying to Shift into Lightbody. You will read more about this later.

It is no coincidence that many are following a more spiritual path with a focus on community, love, peace, harmony and compassion. You may find your source of Spirituality from Divine Intelligence or within, in prayer, meditation or in nature. Nothing is outside of nature. Nature is the Divine; Divine is Nature; it’s all part of the natural workings of the universe.

I offer harmony as a potentially new concept for your consideration. Many strive for peace. Yet peace often refers to the absence of conflict and is a term used in a world where we perceive Separation. Even the synonyms of peace include: reconciliation and ceasefire. In contrast, here are the similes for harmony: accord, synchronization, congruence and coherence. Harmony means even when you are not in agreement with others you are willing to work together to make it so. Peace often includes tolerance. Harmony is acceptance.

Did you resonate with the synonyms of harmony? You are likely on the path toward Lightbody. Here are other signs of Lightbody: Your students, children, grandchildren and you may be having more intuitive experiences. You may be questioning commonly held personal or societal beliefs. You may feel a quickening within. You may notice that you see things from a higher perspective. You may have a sense that our humanity is destined for something much different than what you are inundated with on the news – war, hatred, conflict, FEAR. You sense that there is something wonderfully significant coming for yourself or for humanity. And you may even wonder if what you are personally or professionally doing is sufficient. All of these are signs of increased Spirituality that opens you further to the Wisdom of the Light.

Have you noticed that many of society’s previous beliefs are now being questioned? Societal relationships used to be understood through separateness and fear, but more and more of us are now realizing that we are all One. In fact, each of us is helping to create a new paradigm. Some will emanate the Light (harmony, compassion, Oneness) while others will illuminate the Shadow (fear, separateness, conflict). Both Light and Shadow are required in this journey that we are on as we – our bodies, Spirit, Soul, Earth, and even our Galaxy and Universe – evolve.

Light/Shadow is one of many contrasts that you know. Additional contrasts include day/night, Divine Masculine/Divine Feminine, yin/yang, individual/community, and separateness/unity. These contrasts, and the paradox that recognizes the importance of both sides, are part of your life experience. The paradox of Separateness and Unity is an evolution that began when the Soul explored Unity through Oneness. Then at some point, to more fully understand Oneness, our Souls recognized the paradoxical need for contrast and chose the experience of exploring Unity through Separation. The time is now to come full circle and to again make our connection to Source. This Unification does not replace the knowledge and information that we have attained during our period of separation. On the contrary, the knowledge that we have accumulated has brought us the ability to prove the esoteric Truth that so many of us Know and that will bring us fully to the evolved state of Oneness. It isn’t “either/or”, nor is it separation vs. oneness. Rather it is “both/and”, as well as unity and individuality. We can feel Oneness while fully appreciating individuality. These are significant paradigm shifts!

LIGHTWORKERS are helping individuals and society make these shifts, using the principles of Light to heal themselves, others, the planet and other dimensions.

One of the hallmarks of Lightbody work is bringing Balance to the seemingly paradoxical contrasts in society, and within you. Many previous generations have lived with the focus on the Divine Masculine essence: a belief that one thought and action is correct and that all others are wrong; doing and fixing; perceiving the world in a rather black and white manner; dominance over others in personal relationships and even governments. As so often happens when change occurs, there’s a tendency to move to the opposite side of the spectrum. We are now moving in the direction of the Divine Feminine: to live and work cooperatively; being rather than doing; allowing various shades of gray to peacefully coexist. The Divine Feminine nurtures, heals, comforts, motivates and manifests. The Divine Masculine allows us to do, take action and move things forward. Both are needed for optimal living and co-creating. Balance of the Masculine and Feminine is necessary for systems, relationships, and within you as an individual.

Shifting from Separation to Oneness and establishing the balance of the Feminine and Masculine may not be as easy as one thinks; and these are only two of the paradigm shifts that we are undergoing. The challenge in Lightbody work is shifting your many facets – thoughts, emotions, intentions, energy and your physicality – and moving from the old paradigm to the new.

Becoming…..

ASCENSION is this evolution toward full Lightbody. It involves the shifting of many different paradigms and takes time. The speed and duration vary for different individuals. Willingness and proper support appear to ease and sometimes speed the process.

The process will include shifts in thought, emotion, energy and physicality. Yet this is not linear.

ENERGY is the easiest to shift since energy follows the Light and your own inner Truth. It may seem as if the Awakening began when an idea was read or heard and you noticed a deep resonance of Truth within. But Truth is not recognized by your mind. The recognition comes from the hologram of Knowledge, carried within your energy/Soul, of the time when you were Unified with Source. Thus, your energetic hologram was reminded of Who You Really Are, and your energy then directs your thoughts, emotions and physicality.

THOUGHTS can be relatively easy to shift once you give yourself permission to accept an alternate belief. Your logical mind will replace an old thought with a new belief, especially when it is recognized as part of a Truth that was temporarily lost. If you find yourself resistant, it may be coming from your emotions, as opposed to beliefs.

EMOTIONS – There is a tendency to get pinged by your Ego when you try to see differently and move to Oneness. The Ego is not a fan of different or change. The Ego, and its cousin the Inner Child, thinks that change will place us in grave danger. This is paradoxical because Separateness is what has kept you from feeling safe, and Unity is what brings you to security and wholeness.

Though the process of shifting the emotions can seem messy and feel scary, the deep Safety that is experienced is well worth the journey. In fact, it doesn’t take a long time to experience your inner Safety. As Eckhart Tolle wrote in The New Earth, the pain-body fears and runs. The pain-body is nearly tangible and is full of fear and emotional pain. It is actually your fear of looking at what is in the pain-body that causes the distress. When you finally stop running from your own fear, and instead turn to face what you thought you were running from, you realize that it is not very scary at all. Even considering this possibility may have you ‘quaking in your boots’. I had that same response when I read about the pain-body in Tolle’s book several years ago. I could not imagine that he was speaking Truth. But one day, months after, I was tired of the Fear and decided to try. It is truly amazing! I hope that you will try this yourself to know that it is indeed accurate. And once you turn to face yourself, you recognize a strength that you have never known before.

PHYSICALITY – Everything, including your body, is ascending at this time. From the first holographic memory of Who You Really Are, your body was infused with Light and began its ascension. Since the body is dense it has difficulty comfortably shifting with this infusion of Light. The resulting Lightbody effects are often experienced with what our societal model calls Symptoms. This is most disconcerting when you don’t understand what is happening.

Allow me to provide a different paradigm model for what is happening, as well as how to minimize the symptoms and ease the process:

Your physical body is now, quite literally, trying to move at the speed of the Light with which it has been infused. Shifts happen more easily when Light moves Light, but we believe our bodies to be solid. Though the physical body is carbon-based, Dr. Candace Pert and Dr. James Oschman have explained that we have an inner matrix of liquid crystals (i.e.: fascia/connective tissue) that allows for extraordinarily fast and complete communication throughout your entire system. Not only is your body becoming more crystalline, your body is trying to bring all the parts to equal expansiveness. This is the Ascension to Lightbody within your physical body.

What does this process feel like? When you bring your thoughts into a new paradigm, which may even include reading this article, or release old emotional patterns, or come in contact with new or rapidly moving energies, you may feel the response of your physicality trying to shift. In the old paradigm, these were called symptoms; in this new paradigm, it is known as processing, and may include the following:

Fuzzy thinking, memory issues, distractibility, not thinking straight.
Exhaustion (a sleeping body can process much more rapidly when the conscious mind gets out of the way).
Increased sensitivity of the five senses.
Major toxic releases – odors, hives, excrement changes, rashes, itching.
Frontal headaches due to pituitary gland changes.
Back of head (occipital area) headaches due to changes to the pineal gland.
Nausea, fever without being sick, palpitations, anxiety.
Pain or rashes that move without explanation.
Evaluations by physicians without finding a cause.

You may even note different reactions to medications, lack of responsiveness to former treatment modalities, or changes in dietary or exercise needs.

Thankfully there are many things that you can do to support your body:

Limit caffeine and sugars.
Rest, hydrate, move (exercise, dance, walk, etc).
Receive energy work: Reiki, Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Quantum Healing.
Get bodywork: massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure.
Stretch and shake the body to realign the liquid crystals.
Replenish electrolytes (i.e.: EmergenC, Airborne)
Epsom salts baths.
Flower essences (i.e.: Flower Essence Society; Bach Flower Remedies).
Reduce stress, balance time, delegate, release control, empower yourself.
Set proper verbal, physical and energetic boundaries – See Energy Cleansing and Setting Boundaries.
Be present, live in the now.
Detoxify your body with the 5 elements:

Air-movement through air, oxygen therapy, slow deep breathing

Fire–heat, sun, sauna, observing candlelight and fireplaces

Water–bathe, hydrate, observe water

Earth–mud or Epsom salt bath, herbs, healing with crystals

Ether-essential oils, flower essences

Use all 5 simultaneously: i.e. Take a hot bath with Epsom salts (with essential oils sprinkled on them) and breathe deeply.

The following will support your entire self as it shifts to Lightbody:

Look at recurrent emotional patterns symbolically and deal with them.
Address your triggers, issues and fears, and remember that Grace (the helping hand that lifts you up) will help ease your process.
Practice unconditional love and forgiveness of yourself and others.
Ask Spirit and your Highest Wisdom to guide you.
Trust your innate wisdom and embrace your intuition.
Follow a daily spiritual practice (prayer, meditation, art, music, communing with nature – anything that puts you in the zone).
Practice a nightly review to identify WITHOUT JUDGEMENT AND WITH COMPASSION what you did right as well as how you could respond differently in a future time.
You are more than your body, so ground more expansively by multidimensional grounding: Become aware of your whole energy field, and from that expansiveness ground down to Earth and up to Source.

Living authentically and in congruence with your truest Self is the essence of Being Who You Really Are. You will joyfully exhibit honesty, compassion, and integrity. Additionally, you may notice the following:

An awareness of multiple dimensions at once.
A greater ability to heal self or others.
No fear; less attachment to emotional hooks; an ability to face the old fears more easily.
Awareness of Sacred Geometry and energetic body changes.
Increased intuition.
You can feel your energy “go out” to others without feeling personally depleted.
You are more willing to set aside judgments and be in harmony.
You can dwell in unconditional love during conflicts and stay out of judgment and fear.
Others will see your Light and be Awakened.

This is a journey that each of us with Awareness is taking now. Each has a different role in the Multiverse and may experience the process of ascension differently, but our bodies, Spirit, Soul, Earth, and even the Cosmos are ascending.

Though this is a rewarding journey, there can be moments of uneasiness as you struggle to understand the larger context, may be resistant to healing old wounds, or don’t know how to adequately support your body’s changes. Consider journaling, reading, attending workshops, and joining or creating a group of like-minded individuals.

It may be essential to seek a professional who understands Ascension to Lightbody to help you clear old patterns and triggers. This person can hold an energetically safe place while you process your more challenging personal issues. This may be a Lightworker who understands the process of evolution into Lightbody, and who has expertise in spiritual guidance, energy work and/or bodywork. Consider the following as you do so:

YOU DON’T NEED TO REMEMBER, YOU JUST NEED TO RELEASE.

YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW, YOU JUST NEED TO LET GO.

It is no coincidence that you are alive now. Be Who You Really Are and joyfully embrace your place in the Multiverse.

This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace medical care. Product names are offered as descriptive examples and are not intended as endorsement.

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield, MI. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties; work or school related anxiety; ADHD; Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders; and those who wish to Remember and Become Who You Really Are. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www. SpiralWisdom.net for more information.

Our Need for Heroes – It’s Time to Look Within

Judy Lipson — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 21:55:43 +0000

In a society starved for genuine Heroes, we should do what we can to help them become the real thing in their own life. ~ Caroline Myss

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Have you been seeking a hero in your life to emulate? Psychology teaches that people often see in others what they desire for themselves. Your eager, outward search may really be to find your inner self. If so, it may be time to discover the hero within you. Peace activist and spiritual teacher Mahatma Gandhi taught us to “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Deepak Chopra has added that “transformation ‘in here’ leads to results in the outer world as well.”

Jean Houston’s book The Wizard of Us follows Dorothy’s experiences in and out of Oz. This is done within the framework of mythologist Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey”, also known as his monomyth. Houston adds exercises for the reader to explore his or her own journey. If this concept interests you, Campbell and Houston are both worth reading.

The following is a summation of Campbell’s stages of the Hero’s Journey that can help you to identify and appreciate your own Hero’s Journey:

The Call to Adventure – to leave old concepts and move toward new ways of being.

Refusal of the Call – you think that the time is inconvenient or that you are unworthy; yet something keeps reminding you and calls you to your adventure.

Acceptance and Supernatural Aid – once you accept, you will receive aid from others – sometimes, it even seems magical.

The Guardian Of The Threshold – your adversary often shows up as a supervisor/boss or unsolicited advisor who urges you to follow the status quo.

The Field Of Adventure – to get past the perceived dangers, you learn to think out of the box and to find an inner power that may surprise you. This phase is often an inner journey.

The Belly Of The Whale – this can look/feel like depression, introversion, or a strong need to get away from it all. It is the final separation from the hero’s (original) world and self, allowing for the potential development of a new world and a new self, a metamorphosis.

The Road Of Trials – you have challenges for which you feel unprepared, yet the resources are there for you!

The Meeting With The Beloved – though it may feel like a spiritual or religious experience, the emphasis is on experiencing unconditional love and connection with one’s self (self-unification).

Crossing The Return Threshold – bringing your new skills, self-appreciation and life goals into your three-dimensional world.

Mastering The Two Worlds With Freedom To Live – learning to balance the old and the new together. Additionally, since the inner and outer demons have been vanquished there is freedom from fear, anxiety, hope, and other emotions. You can now truly experience life by just BEING.

I know many youth and adults who are hearing the “Call to Adventure”. They describe it in various ways, such as a deep belief that they are supposed to do something, a knowing that society is supposed to be different, or some other stirring deep within. For me, it was a clear “knowing” that spurred me to leave my job in education and focus on Spiral Wisdom LLC.

Have you been hearing the “Call to Adventure”? If so, then it’s time to accept and embark on your Hero’s Journey.

Do It For Others: Your embarkation signals to others that the time for change is now. When they see you enter the world of discovery and embrace potential change, they can emulate your courage and strength, and consider entering their own Hero’s Journey to find their true self.

Do It For Yourself: Once you have received the “Call to Adventure”, you will feel incomplete until you embark. Your resistance can result in anxiety, panic attacks, depression or feelings of inadequacy. So enter your journey to release the patterns that have held you back, and finally begin to embrace the Self that is you.

If you have children or work with students, you know that they inherently seek heroes as role models. Please encourage them to avoid false heroes and to use discretion, so that the larger-than-life individuals, whose achievements and quality of character have been earned, can inspire them. Support your youngsters’ self-worth. Teach them to rely upon their instincts, to look within for their own clear voice, and to seek their own Hero’s Journey.

Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and educational strategist in West Bloomfield. She helps clients of all ages who have learning difficulties; work or school related anxiety; ADHD; Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorders; and those who wish to Remember and Become Who You Really Are. Contact Judy at 248.568.8665 and judylipson@spiralwisdom.net, and visit www. SpiralWisdom.net for more information.

Living a Six–Sensory Life

Judy Lipson — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:48:22 +0000

Our intuition is always there, always reading the situation, always trying to steer us the right way. ~ Arianna Huffington

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

I’ve known about my sixth-sense for some time. I first heard the term six-sensory from author and spiritual teacher, Sonia Choquette. Being a six-sensory means that you process your world with more than the conventional five senses (visual, auditory, touch, taste, smell).

Your sixth sense is your gut instinct. It’s natural, normal and everyone has it. The parental version of sixth sense awareness happens when children first venture away from parents: When you get there, if something doesn’t feel right I want you to call me or leave right away. Others talk about business relationships and opportunities: I just knew from the start that this was not a good person/idea, but I didn’t listen to my gut and I got burned. Think about the varied ways that your sixth sense has been involved in your life.

Now that we have established that you have a sixth sense, the question is: Do you listen to yours or have you ignored your inner voice?

Choquette believes that “your sixth sense should be your first sense”. Author Sophy Burnham (The Art of Intuition) says it’s the subtle knowing without ever having any idea why you know it. If you are ready to embrace your six-sensory self, there are ways to develop, and learn to hear, your inner voice / gut instinct / intuition:

RECOGNITION – It is already communicating with you, but your mind’s chatter hides it. Busy minds and activities make intuition difficult to receive.

SOLITUDE AND CREATIVITY allow you the opportunity to reconnect with yourself, so strive to regularly build them into your schedule.

MINDFULNESS – Silent meditation is the most common, but you can be mindful during chores, exercise or any other activity. Focus your mind on each aspect or movement of the activity to quiet the chatter.

BREATHWORK – In your mind’s eye watch the movement of your chest and abdomen as it moves away from your spine on the inhale and then back inward on the exhale. This also helps to focus the mind and still your thoughts.

RECEPTION – You may ‘hear’ the message, see symbols or visual pictures, feel sensations or emotions in your body, or have a vague yet clear ‘knowing’. It may seem like a subtle whisper or a powerful download.

WRITE/DRAW – Relax your mind, close your eyes if you wish and write or type whatever comes to mind. You can similarly draw in a free association manner.

DREAMS – Dreams and intuition both come from the unconscious. If you remember your dreams, they can become a source of information. Begin each night with a request for information about a specific question. When you awaken, write in your journal everything that you can recall about that dream as well as your questions and recent life events. Review your journal regularly looking for symbols and patterns.

DISTINGUISH the difference between mind chatter and your inner voice. As you practice you will likely notice that your inner voice speaks clearly, concisely, gently and without judgment. These are not the typical descriptions of your inner chatter.

MAKING A DECISION? Imagine a path or a doorway for each of the choices that you face. As you approach each: feel for density, heaviness, thickness; observe the visual cues of light, dark, color, sparkles; look for excitement, dread, fear, approachability, resistance, expansion.

PRACTICE will allow you to trust your inner voice/instinct/intuition. Begin with small questions that don’t feel life altering, such as, which route should I travel to my destination today?

EMPATHY – Your empathic abilities are a gift. You don’t require the fullest amount of input to have the knowledge. Instead, modulate the amount of information that comes in to you. Use intention as well as the techniques described in Energy Cleansing.

TRUST your intuition and allow it to become a more significant part of your daily life!

Living life as a six-sensory is beneficial because all of your senses are more attuned to give you the fullest information. This allows you to see the many options that are available, to know when to proceed and when to withdraw, in relationships and professionally, and to ultimately recognize and live your life’s purpose.

When you are connected to your inner wisdom you can experience a deep, strong connection to your true Self. This provides a calm and confident power, fewer emotional triggers and less anxiety or depression. Living a six-sensory life is a profoundly empowering experience.

Living Your Authentic Life

Judy Lipson — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 01:10:57 +0000

“Owning our story can be hard, but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky, but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ~ Dr. Brené Brown

By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Living authentically is when the peaceful, confident core of your being directs the inner and outer aspects of your life. It means operating from your truest inner-self, so you can be the person who you were meant to be and to experience life empowered.

We each have an inner compass, our entelechy, which guides us toward our authentic life. The entelechy is the fullest realized essence of a thing, i.e.: The oak tree is the entelechy of an acorn, and a full grown adult is the entelechy of a human infant. Dr. Jean Houston, in her book “The Wizard of Us”, teaches that the entelechy is that Essential Self that longs to be expressed and remains your gentle guide.

However, outside forces may interfere with this central guidance. Parents, schools and other elements of society try to mold you to act in a certain manner. This socialization is done with the highest of intentions to keep you protected. Just as animals seek safety within a herd, most people want to limit others’ differences. They believe that it is safer for you to be like everyone else so that your family and society will support you.

In an effort to fit in you might find that you don’t express who you are. You hide yourself from your colleagues, friends and family. This creates conflict for your authentic self, and when it’s hidden for too long, you might even forget what, and who, you have been hiding.

Interestingly, unhappiness and anxiety may be the entelechy’s language to return you to your lost self. Instead of avoiding your body sensations and emotions, take a look at them, listen to the message and return to authenticity.

TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR TRUE SELF

What did you love as a child – art, music, dance, writing, etc? The exuberant joy you felt as a child is often your window to your REAL self. So begin now: Join a class, get paper and pastels, pick up that instrument, join a chorus or dance in your home. Do something NOW to begin your journey towards your authentic self.

If you don’t know what to do, do anything. If it feels good, do it more. If it doesn’t, do something different.

Don’t betray yourself and don’t negotiate your integrity. Compromise is fine when it is done willingly, but if you agree to something out of fear or to try to be “the good girl or boy” your inner self will know. You will be angry with the other person, but your deepest anger and feeling of betrayal is directed at yourself.

Acknowledge and accept all aspects of yourself including the qualities that you pretend don’t exist (the shadows). Sometimes your shadow is a behavior that you exhibit but won’t acknowledge. Other times it’s a behavior that you don’t demonstrate but unconsciously wish that you would. When these behaviors are seen in others, you will most likely feel anger or annoyance. Once again the deepest anger or frustration is not with the other, but rather the inner disappointment for not honoring the self.

Are you in the job you wanted for yourself, and if so, are you still happy with it? If changing your job or career is not a possibility, strive to incorporate your true passions into your life through hobbies, interests or volunteering.

Develop your inner confidence. Ironically, as you become more self-assured you can live more authentically. The more authentic you become, the more confidence you will feel and express.

When you respond to others, are you being who others expect you to be instead of being you? While it seems advantageous to fit yourself to the expected molds so as not to be difficult or different, it is much more important for you to be your true self. Dr. Brené Brown reminds you to show up, be real, be honest and let your true self be seen.

At your very core is the driving force to be authentic. Recognizing, acknowledging, and empowering yourself to be who you really are will enhance your confidence, joy and inner peace.

Don’t ever forget Who You Really Are.