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

When I look at the world (locally and globally) I see an environment of conflict and separation, while I believe in oneness and unity. There is a great need for mending fences and finding connection, but the problem(s) feel way too big for me to make a significant impact.

When my clients have expressed similar sentiments to me, I point out that we do what we can. Sometimes that is donating money or time to an important cause, but when those are not manageable you can still add light and peace to our world by smiling and connecting with everyone (including complete strangers) that you encounter in lines, behind store registers, or even while passing them on the street.

This small act can brighten another’s day, lift their heart and put a smile on their face. A colleague recently shared that saying “Awwwww” in your mind (like you would when seeing a cute puppy), will allow for the opening and sharing of your heart space, without saying a word.

Me? I do what I can. I donate, I smile, I share my heart space, I pray, and I meditate. And like you, I question if it is enough. These actions, over time, have proven to be a bridge for an incredible experience.

A few weeks ago, I was approached by a couple of Muslim therapists, to meet with Jewish therapists, so we could discuss the importance of maintaining the therapeutic alliance in our work when we encounter clients of different faiths, nationalities, and beliefs particularly during these difficult times. (I’m writing this in November 2023.)

Due to our desire to initiate this quickly, and challenges of availability during the holiday season, we started small. Four of us sat for a nearly 2.5 hour conversation at our first meeting. It was impactful. We talked about our families to create connection and commonality, and then with intention we led with our hearts. We asked each other gentle questions and probing questions. We answered honestly and authentically. We looked at our common beliefs and core values as well as our seeming differences. We sought to understand where these differences came from and what holds us to them.

What was our secret? We approached everything with curiosity and the intention of holding a sacred space of radical acceptance — that same quality that we each regularly provide therapeutically to our clients (patients) who have differing viewpoints.

We cried, and we hugged, and we talked. We thanked each other for coming to the conversation and for holding the space for each other.

This experience filled my heart and gives me hope. We will be repeating it soon, and then we hope to add more people.

I found that as I have been discussing this conversation with others, each person has expressed delight. They hope it demonstrates that any of us can have peaceful conversations, and that connections really can occur. They feel hope, as I do. And they have also suggested that I write it down and share it with others. It’s amazing how one example might encourage others to do the same.

How can you participate in similar dialogues?

• Approach everything from an “isn’t this curious” mindset.
• Find your shared humanity.
• Look at your own potential biases – we all have them, and it is helpful when you allow yourself to see your own.
• Set an expectation for authenticity and honesty.
• Open your heart (“Awwwww”).
• Seek any and all commonalities between you and the one that you have previously seen as ‘the other.’
• Bring in humor where appropriate and LAUGH together.
• If you find that you are making an assumption in your mind, take a breath and consider asking permission to check it out. “I find myself thinking that you mean this….. Is this accurate?”
• Express gratitude for their participation in this (potentially) difficult conversation.

There are so many opportunities to cross divides. And there has never been a more important time. Might you find one small way to reach out, open your heart, and establish connection with another? I thank you in advance, and I would love to hear about it.

Sending each of you bright blessings. The spirit in me acknowledges the spirit in you.

Namasté,

Judy

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.JudyLipson.com for more information.

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

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

One of the things that really concerns me right now is how fraught with fear we are becoming. Fear has always been a prominent emotion. After all, our nervous system is wired to look for cues of danger.

For most of us, our ability to rise above this tendency, as well as our resiliency, are reduced. I write this so that we can each be reminded of the importance to keep our nervous systems as calm as possible, even during these incredibly challenging times. Regardless of our faith or ethnicity we have had difficult histories – some more challenging, some during certain times. Even though we did not live through those histories personally, we are affected. This is referred to as ancestral, or generational, trauma. We carry these traumas and wounds within us in addition to the intuitive need to look for danger. No wonder we have such a tendency to be anxious, worried and even fearful.

The current world events are frightening. Yet, we cannot respond most effectively if we do not stay grounded and calm. (Looking for proof of this concept? As examples, reflect on surgeons in the operating room who encounter a medical crisis, or the pilot Sully Sullenberger who landed his plane safely on the Hudson River. If they had responded in panic, the outcome would not likely have been successful.)

I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy to calm our panicked nervous systems, but I do encourage you to continue to learn ways to do so. Each time you practice a technique, you are reinforcing your parasympathetic system’s ability to calm yourself down, and each time that offers the potential for it to be a little easier the next time.

Why should you do this practice? Well, it’s really hard on the body to be in fight and flight for long periods of time. Also, it feels really awful!!!

And here is another important reason: The opposite of love is not hate, the opposite of love is fear. When we are in fear, it is very difficult to feel safe enough to open our hearts to adequately connect with others, and this includes our closest loved ones; and that is not a good thing.

An important aspect of what makes our nervous system feel safe is the act of feeling connected to others. We are actually wired for connection in order to feel safe. It’s knowing that we can reach out and the other will be there for us. If we are in fear we are less able to reach out and to achieve that. This makes us more fearful, and also makes us less available to connect with others with whom we may not have familiarity.

As a result, we see the world as me versus you and us versus them. This experience of separateness and polarization breeds contempt, resentment, hostility, and more fear. And the cycle goes on and on.

Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” You may only feel like one person, and wonder how you can really make a difference, but it is important to remember that you are not really the singleton that you think you are. There are many of us who believe in peace and love [with just a side-note that way before Marianne Williamson even thought there might be a time that she would run for president, as a spiritual teacher she taught that “sometimes the loving response is no”.] Realize that you are not alone in this quest. There are many of us who long for peace and unity, but that message does not (currently) sell advertisements on the news, so it is not broadcast or printed.

Be the peace you wish to see in the world. Start your practices (or delve back in) so that you can calm your nervous system and respond from your more grounded, peaceful place. Your mind and body (and your heart and spirit) will thank you for it. I know that I do (thank you).

Please remember to take care of yourself even while you are taking care of others, personally or professionally. Remember that you must “put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others”.

I thought it might be helpful to remind us all of strategies to help calm our nervous systems as we continue to experience these difficult times, whether that is personally or vicariously.

• Keeping busy is an effective tool for mental distraction (in the short-term), but provide enough quiet time so as to not stress your physical body.
• While it is important to be informed, and even to bear witness to the stories, you only need a small amount of information to achieve that goal. Please turn it off or stop reading when it’s time. (Even before it’s time.)
• Focus on movement, hydration, and healthy nutrition to take care of your physical body.
• Re-visit your creative endeavors.
• Get out in nature.

May we all know peace! Namasté

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.JudyLipson.com for more information.

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

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.

Avoid separation from others and within yourself

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

Keeping up with the Joneses. It seems like human nature. You look at others and compare. Unfortunately you judge yourself to fall short. But what are you really looking at? You are comparing that in-depth knowledge that you have of yourself to the superficial information that you have of others, as well as to an ideal that doesn’t exist.

Be aware of this unconscious tendency to compare and judge which can put the other on a pedestal, leaving you to feel inadequate and resentful. Rather than seeing what is real, you perceive an illusion. This illusion creates a separation between yourself and others, and between the self that presents to the world and your authentic self. (More about authenticity later this year.)

When comparing, you evaluate the completeness of what you know about yourself to the superficial awareness that you have of others. You really only know what is observed or what has been verbally shared. This can be inaccurate, incomplete or untrue; in fact it often is. There is a tendency to take a small bit of information and to create a complete story around it. Do you really know if that co-worker or acquaintance has it all? Might they have depression or anxiety, problems with their kids, marital discord, financial problems, weight or health issues? Don’t assume that everyone else has the perfect life, family and body.

Acknowledge and accept all aspects of yourself, including your shadows. The shadow includes the aspects of your personality and actions that you pretend don’t exist. Sometimes it’s a behavior that you exhibit, but won’t admit; other times it’s a behavior that you won’t allow yourself to act upon, but unconsciously wish that you would. When these behaviors are seen in others, you will most likely feel anger or annoyance.

Ironically, the most effective way to stop judging others (and the self) is to take care of your own needs. This is not selfishness.

There are three choices to this first technique. Strive to respond from choice one or three most frequently.

DO IT, SAY IT OR ASK FOR IT: Express what is needed and do what is necessary for the self to provide mastery and empowerment. Unfortunately, most people don’t do this enough.

DON’T SAY, ASK OR DO: This option is chosen too frequently. You are afraid to step forward and ask for what you need. You also don’t say no when you should. This is especially true with women who believe that they must be good girls and not rock the boat, but it is not just a women’s issue. Besides feeling like people are taking advantage of you, this option is disempowering because you separate from your authentic self.

PURPOSELY DON’T SAY, ASK OR DO: When the decision to not verbalize or do is based on choice rather than avoidance and fear, empowerment is maintained. It is okay to choose to not express your needs when it is the wrong timing or the greater good will not be achieved in doing so.

Another great technique to respond authentically is to ask these three questions:

WHAT DOES MY MIND KNOW?

WHAT DOES MY HEART KNOW?

WHAT DOES MY SPIRIT KNOW?

THE MIND REACTS FROM FEAR, JUDGMENT AND/OR SUPERFICIAL NEEDS. Your heart brings you clearly and lovingly to what’s important. Your spirit will set you free from any remaining concerns as it responds from the highest awareness and brings freedom and peace. The spirit’s perspective is like looking at a tapestry: on the back are knots and crisscrossed threads, yet when you see the front you only see the beauty and perfection.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN NEEDS AND EACH OTHER. Avoid self-judgment and the you-versus-me mentality that lead to unhealthy relationships, a fractured, competitive society and separation – duality.

DUALITY IS A RELATIVELY NEW TERM RELATED TO SEPARATION. It fosters resentment, anger and hatred and can lead to aggression toward self or others. Its opposite is unity. Unity means that you are one with everything; that you don’t feel separation – from others or within yourself. Unity brings peace, acceptance and oneness.

EACH OF US IS PART OF THE CURRENT GLOBAL SHIFT FROM DUALITY TO ONENESS. Treat yourself and others with compassion and acceptance. Avoid judgment. Be present in your own life. Continue to take care of yourself, each other and our planet.

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.