"I'm just a waitress... gas attendant.. secretary, etc" Know that we each play an important role in the connectivity of the universe. We are each and everyone of us unique and special! Embrace who you are, love what you do, experience all that you can!
We are ALL equal. We ALL have lessons. We are ALL teachers. We ALL have an equal opportunity to be a hero; to a friend, a family member, or a stranger. We all have the chance to put a smile on anothers face, bring warmth and brighten somebody's day..
It matters less where your job is and more where your heart is.

Wholeness.. The experience of aloneness... we want to choose who we are but we also want to be connected to others in relationship. To do so, we must first discover the courage to be who we are and to be secure within ourselves. We are then able to experience a solid relationship outside if our being based on fulfillment and not need. Experience the Wholeness within and then embrace the Connectivity with Love, Awareness and without Judgment.

Relax and love the day. love who you are and your journey, your uniqueness and your offerings. Find

the peacefulness within; wrap yourself up in this feeling and carry it with you.

A place of peace. In your mind think of all that you are truly grateful for. allow your mind to wander, to daydream; begin with the experiences of the day. the people that you connect with. new discoveries and awareness. the love within. what you want and where you want to go. lovingly connect with the messages allowing your mind to wander, to flow, to dream. Daydreams are like personal letters that we send to our subconscious. A dream can convey feelings, thoughts, ideas and desires and are said to convey spiritual guidance, premonitions and interactions with loved ones who are in the spirit world.
Daydream a little Dream today...

A Star is a self-luminous celestial body consisting of a mass of gas held together by its own gravity...and represents your hopes, dreams, and determination to reach for the stars and be all you can be, to radiate and shine your light onto the world...

Our Truth lay in the lesson; the key is to see beyond the illusion. It is said that Reality is a Perception. Our Perception therefore, becomes our Reality. With this awareness, our Perception can be ever-changing.
Choosing a Conscious Awareness is stepping outside the picture to see how differently the Experience is when we are not so close to it, to see the Whole Experience. It’s the Broadening of our Minds to see the Truth rather than the failure or fault.
What we thought, felt, saw, & experienced today, with a new awareness, may look completely different tomorrow.
Within these truths, is a Universal unity, because the answer is Love. Life is a journey, love is the destination. It is within these truths, that our greatest lessons are discovered, pushing us, moving us, to be the best that we can be. Being You, Living it, Loving You!
Our Bodies are the Vessels for our Souls. This is a reminder of the true body, mind and spirit connection; listen to what your body is telling you; trust in the connection, sense the messages, for they will lead you to your truth.
Let go of insecurities, over-analyzing and 2nd guessing and enter into a more trusting relationship with self and the wisdom of your bodies.
The time has come to Step Into YOU! Own it, Embrace it, Feel it, Love it!

  

Authenticity

Living Authentically is not about leaving everything behind and forgetting your responsibilities to focus on 'ME.' It's about acknowledging every part of your past, embracing the lessons and the memories, discovering what you may be holding onto, what may be holding you back, what no longer serves you and healing within to move forward completely embracing who you are, loving you, without judgement or ego. It about being reminded that you are a child of God; Loved, Special and Unique.
 Living Authentically is understanding and accepting that you have the Power within to make decisions in line with these values and the path that you are on. It may be about re-discovering who you are the the very core of your being and with this renewed awareness choosing a new path.

It means that, even though you have choice, one of those choices may be something that you don't necessarily 'want' to do, but have to because of your values and responsibilities.
Authenticity means fully embracing that decision, wholly and completely, knowing that the decision is based on you and is along the road of your highest good, of who you are, authentically, with love and acceptance.

To accept this means that we will not carry around the decision with anger, fear or resentment, 'blaming' someone else or ourselves; but we will do so with a sense of ownership, wholeness, gentleness, contentment and power within.

Respect yourself, honor your values; allow the acceptance of those around you to make decisions based on their own values, without fear, judgement or ego.

Embrace Life, Embrace Your Gifts, Embrace the Love Within... Lead with Love. Be Happy, Kind, Accountable and Joyful. Know that Spirit is with you always.
www.facebook.com/spiritwithinus

God sent me to a small town to learn a BIG lesson~

My husband & I packed up almost 8 years ago to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city to move to our 'little 'peace' of heaven' in the country.

SO much has transpired over the past several years, so many lessons we've had to learn. I do believe that there is a lesson to learn in every experience and continually seek to learn. Today, I learned, BIG. 

There are no failures, only experiences and opportunities of growth. Upon moving out to to our 'peace' of heaven, with so many new opportunities before us, we delved into community life; happily, joyfully, with eyes wide open and feet first. Or so we thought; it seems that we forgot the parachute!
But alas, even though I kept searching for the lesson, I just couldn't seem to find it. I did know the essence of the lesson, I was just having difficulty getting the pieces to fit. Until today.

There is no failure, only opportunity to grow and to experience more. Having said that, my husband would say, at this exact moment in time, that he has failed. But it just is not so. I do have the faith that he will come to realize this lesson, enabling him to move forward with pride. 
This has been difficult, because although, for the most part (we are human!), we take every opportunity to see the lesson; sometimes, it is so big or we are so beaten down, that it takes a bit more time. When this happens, we often carry it around attached to us as anger, fear or frustration, or,  all of the above.

The key is to seek and to see, trust and learn, embrace and then LeT iT Go... only then, are able to truly move forward.  One way of doing this is to step outside the picture to see the experience as a whole, not just bits and pieces of it. Or to look at the picture without being in it, we are often able to gain a new perspective.
This is what I have had to do; but some lessons are just tougher than others and someone always comes along and says, 'God doesn't give you what you can't handle,' which, often just makes us feel worse, cause then we just keep taking it.
I would venture to say that God gives us only what we NEED to learn, to experience, to grow and to love. Then he cheers joyfully once we do!
Our lesson, at this time, felt like a really BIG, GIGANTIC one, but the reality is that this is just my perception. God is cheering loudly today!

So what's the big lesson, you're asking. I would say that the answer to the question lay in my new awareness that small towns parallel families; values, insights, familiarities, experiences, dysfunctions, conditions and all, good or bad. (this is true of all communities, churches, schools, teams, cities, countries, it can be applied in many places).
This awareness can serve in a very positive manner and does work effectively and efficiently throughout the world, and yet, it has the ability to be so debilitating on the other side of the coin. In our case, for me, it, at the very least, finally answers the question as to why the community in which we are living, has had little or no growth over many years. And to further answer, for us, why we have struggled for the last 8 years with acceptance within the community. 

This has taken me back to reflect upon my truth, to what I solemly believe is at the core of our Universal Truths; 'That Love is the Single, Most Powerful Experience in Life. Everything comes from either a Fear State or Secure State of Love.'

In my book, I talk about our Shadow Side and our Reveal side, and discuss how we show to people what keeps us safe and comfortable, as well as what keeps them safe and comfortable. This doesn't mean that it is 'right,' nor the truth, only that it keeps us safe. It is our perception. Our Shadow Side fiercely protects us from what we perceive to be the truth based on our past experiences and what we 'know.' This also keeps us from some pretty wonderful experiences, due to these fears. 

My goal in writing this is not to promote my book, but rather to share my lesson, to learn and to grow; to move forward with strength and further awareness. In the same regard, I am also not writing this to bash or to further create negativity within our community.  I recall a while back, a friend said to me, 'That's what all small towns are like.' This is the truth. But it doesn't just pertain to small towns, but to big cities, provinces, schools, sport teams, clubs, the workplace, churches; it can really be applied to all forms of 'communities.' I, personally, just needed fully learn and embrace this, to move forward.

There are so many wonderful attributes within this community and of the people of the community. There are many that have and continue to support us; and those who bring inspiration, conversation and laughter to me daily. When we first moved here we were amazed at the many fundraising efforts for charities and new enterprises! It was all truly commendable and still is. It certainly appeared to be a fine fit! I suppose, it was a perfect fit to learn my lesson. I am and will be always grateful to those who have supported us and allowed me to grow during my time here.  

With this new awareness, I am now able to move forward and this always makes me HaPPy!  To move past what my lesson was, as well as what had over shadowed the support. What I have learned is that those who have supported us, are already able to see and understand the bigger picture. That although there are loyalties within and to the community, in order to grow, they must sometimes step outside the comfort zone and be accepting of new experiences/people, that which may be unfamiliar.  
I do not place fault on those that remain only loyal; as it is but  a reflection of their safety, their comfort zone.  What did surprise me most, is the fierceness in which the loyalties grew and how strong it became. I do understand it now. 

By looking at the big picture, I am now able to see and to understand all of this. It's comparable to a family where the parents are abusive or alcoholic. It's what they know that keeps them safe. Loyalty is commendable. It is just not necessarily honest, nor does it always carry values or integrity. It often  remains unconditional. Further, there is no allotment to learn and therefore to grow. Just hoping someone will change or learn from an experience, does not make it so. Without knowing or understanding this, the 'one more chance', goes on indefinitely. There is no need to change. When the need is not there, there is no growth. It does keep them all safe in their community.  Tough Love is tough because it can be difficult for all side to step outside the security of their box.   
When I began writing this, I made of list of the experiences that led me to this insight, but truthfully, this is not about how I was wronged, it's about insight, awareness and growth.  I was able to see the connection between these experiences, my lessons and my teachings. So, with that, I deleted all of the experiences from both this blog and my mind, they no longer serve me in any manner. And with this I move forward, with more kindness and a smile. I am sincerely grateful.  I trust in the process. I look forward to my husband learning and embracing this lesson, as well.  Which brings me to another of our Universal Truths, 'the Allowance, for all to be, in their own time and place, beginning with self.'
 
My 2 Favorite Universal Lessons all wrapped up on one! <3

A Personal Mission Statement,

A Personal Mission Statement~ With love, from the Heart, with Compassion and a Sense of Calming.

Creating a Mission Statement can be one of the most POWERFUL tools that we can Create on Our Own, Completely about Ourselves and Our Truth!
Once Created, it can help you to make Conscious Choices that Align Your Beliefs, Values and Goals with Your Behavior. Your Awareness of the Importance of Your Mission Statement will help You to Be Accountable to You, Your Dreams and Your Authenticity.
It’s Purpose is to Discover and Bring Clarity to your Truth. Creating a Mission Statement Consists of Asking Yourself and Reflecting On:

What do I want to do?

What are my Values?
What are my Beliefs?
Where do I want to go with my life?
Who do I want to help?
What is the result? What value will I create? 

Begin by making a list of all the things that you important to YOU. (You do not have to share this with anyone, but you will have to hold yourself accountable).
Write down a list of YOUR goals. List all of things that YOU want to do or accomplish. Allow the creativity of your Spirit, flow to and through you. Know that this exercise is just the beginning of getting clear and that you can add or delete anything as you go along. At this stage you are simply creating and flowing.


These are a few Examples of My Personal Goals and Values:

• What I value most is having meaningful connection with people.
• I value being able to communicate with others safely, at a deep level. 
• A Personal Goal of mine is to present myself Graciously, without Judgment, and with Integrity.
• What matters very much to me to create a safe environment with people so that we can share thoughts and ideas, both teaching and learning.
• A Goal is to provide an environment so that others are able to embrace who they are as special and unique.
• My relationship with myself is of the most importance, totally loving and accepting who I am, as unique and special, with gifts to offer.
• My Goal is to Live every day with Love and like it is the First Day of the Rest of My Life!
  
  Now go through these 2 lists and from this, create a Personal Mission Statement.
  
  *This is an example of my Personal Mission Statement: My Personal Mission is to live my life Mindfully, Creatively, Consciously and Authentically and to provide a life for us that allows us to travel and experience many cultures! My Personal Mission is to align my Spirit to live with true Abundance, Mentally, Spiritually, Financially and Physically. My Personal Mission is to Be Happy and to Spread Happiness wherever I go and to everyone I meet. 
  
  For more information and to formulate your Business Mission Statement, visit my website at www.spiritwithinus.biz and go to the 'Member's Only' page. It will ask you to Login with your email only. You will be required to create a password, as well, and will gain instant access to this tool and other valuable tools! Have fun, Be creative and Start Living Life and Loving the Life You Live!
  

Craziness and a Meadowlark!

Change is in the Air... But the staples remain the same.. Sunsets, gentle breezes, an open heart & creative mind. Giving generously and accepting graciously, Being mindful, honest and kind... Going
with the Flow with confidence, love and pride. Cha.cha.changes. No matter how scary, change can be a welcome guide. Most often, I would say, that if we keep our eyes open, the signs will guide us.

The other evening, as I was walking to the kitchen, my husband said that something 'really large' had hit the window. I walked over and looked to the ground... and there it was... a beautiful baby Hawk. As I looked down, I noticed that its eyes were open and did not appear injured, but rather 'stunned.' As I continued to watch it, I guess that I made a noise, because it tilted its head and flew away quite suddenly and with confidence (if that even makes sense in the world of birds!)

The next day as I was driving down a gravel road on my way to the cottage, a dog came running out from a yard site and I hit him. This is an area that I travel often and typically slow down, as there are 3 homes in a row, which is unusual in our rural area. I have never seen any animals (or people for that matter) when driving past.
I hit the brakes as soon as saw him coming at me and shuttered as I heard the 'clunk!' I was heartbroken by the mire sound.  As I looked in my rear-view mirror, I saw the dog laying on the ground. By that time I was at a complete stop.  I jumped out of the truck to tend to the dog, as well as notify the home owners from where the dog ran out from. As I walked towards the dog, all of the sudden he got up, looked around and ran back into the yard at full speed!
I am not completely sure which was a bigger shock, hitting him or seeing him run away! Either way I was still shaking, but completely grateful at the same time. As I entered the yardsite, 3 other dogs came to greet me, along with the 'injured dog.' The homeowner and her son came out and I explained what happened. The dog appeared fine and with the knowledge that he had been hit, they could tend to him as necessary
 ~ the Meadowlark ~ Just came into my thoughts when choosing a Companion for the day. Her Message?
Pay Attention & Listen Carefully as the Meadowlark's Song is Ancient and Filled with Wonder!    Take on the Day with a Confident, yet Calming sense of Cheerfulness and Radiant Joy!  The Meadowlark symbolizes that easier times are ahead; she guides you to to use your power to its fullest potential by moving forward with the Strength of Purpose, Determination and Focus. This is the time to Discover and Awaken to the Magic Within; all the while balancing the grounding of the Earth and Air Aspects as you walk your path. Listen carefully to your song, you will learn to use your power to its fullest potential! Her medicine is about brightening your world, singing your own song & exploring for knowledge, while having confidence in connecting with your sacred inner light!

Being a dog owner,  hitting the dog really shook me up, but also caused me to recall the incident
with the hawk. Seems kind of crazy, but this then took me back to yet another recent incident. I remembered back to a couple weeks ago while at the cottage. A small bird flew into the window. As we looked out the window, the bird  stood on the deck upright, although for the time being, he was motionless.  Without wanting to scare him or make him move suddenly, we watched him closely. After a bit, we took him a bit of water. Soon enough, he was strong enough to flew away.

Such is life. Often when we least expect it, something happens to change EVERYTHING.  In an instant, life has got you good, you are knocked to the ground and all appears hopeless. This is the time to let go; remain still, regain control of your breath, your senses, your inner magic... and after a brief period of rest and healing, when the timing is exactly right, with strength, focus and determination, you will  move forward with confidence.

Change is in the Air. Change is Imminent. Change is Necessary. 

A Boot Camp for the Soul

The Star Reading~ Journey of Authenticity

Awaken~Something truly amazing is to be found~

Find it within yourself, in your surroundings, in your connections with others~

The Videos below are available to be viewed on YouTube. Together, they represent the Essence of My Readings.  My Passion to to enable others to life life with Authenticity and from a place of Love. 

A Boot Camp for the Soul~

Let there be a time for Healing~
To Cleanse away impurities and disease as you re-nourish every cell in your body.  Mediate and Pray, Going within to connect with and align with Spirit.
Move through this healing process by revitalizing every cell as you find your unique, true & authentic self!
Breathe in as you feel this presence flow through you.  

Allow the past to heal and old wounds to become weightless, as you release and let them go.
 

Today, experience a Renewed sense of self;  Prepare to walk into your new life.  Know that you wiser and stronger for the many lessons that you have learned. 

Embrace the peacefulness and love within your heart; this is an important aspect of any healing.
Embrace You,  as a beautiful being with unique and special gifts! Let Your Truth,  Your Spirit Shine. Be at Peace with Yourself and the Path that you Choose. Embrace Your Presence, Your Being.

The Shadow Self/the Protector
http://youtu.be/Zr5yvUzarQw

The Reveal Self/the Persona
http://youtu.be/SKO6mMmXO38

Royalty ~ You Are the Star*
http://youtu.be/KWBG8ws4-5I

Universal Truths & Lessons
http://youtu.be/ZCi7rZ-7BJA

Blessings & Love

Being You, Authentically! Living It* Loving You*

Being You, Authentically. Living It* Loving You* 
2013 Copy-write
Available NOW in Full Colour Illustration 
 September SALE Price  $14.99 on CreateSpace.com
AND Amazon Kindle  for $3.99

***Soon to Be RELEASED at McNally Robinson***

A preview video of the cards can be seen on YouTube...

Excerpt from Book 'Being You, 

Authentically. Living It* Loving You!*

*This book is the Companion Book to ‘Being You, 
Authentically. Living It,*Loving You* Spirit Deck.
Purchase the Spirit Deck 'Pocket Pack' or Standard Deck'
for Daily Reflection & Insight!

visit my Website for Details!

www.spiritwithinus.biz

Copyright © 2013 Lori-Lynn Koke

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 4384622

Begin Each Day with Reflection and Insight.

End Each Day with Gratitude and Praise.

Creative, Conscious, Aware, Mindful, Gratitude & Love

Be You, Authentically, Always

 Living It* Loving You*

Awareness~

We are not our past, if we allow today to bring forth new opportunities and awareness. With this awareness and the help of the cards, we can unlock the blocks to inspire and challenge ourselves to live from a place of love. The deck can also provide reflection bringing insight to daily challenges and opportunities. This can be life changing when we choose to begin the day from a place of peace and love! Change happens when change begins.

What is Important~

The world out there can be very confusing in this information based era. With our busy and demanding lives, it is easy to see how we can slowly lose sight of what is truly important along the way. We are continually bombarded by magazines, commercials, papers, movies, the internet and television shows sending out illusions and messages that imply how we are supposed to look, act and feel. I believe that this is damaging to our society.

Most often there comes a time when we become tuned into the reality that the messages are not only exhausting, but self-defeating to our authenticity. We then make the choice to re-discover our genuineness and what is truly important to us at the core.

Authenticity refers to the truthfulness of our spirit, attributions, commitment to self and sincerity. Returning to this place of authenticity leads us on a journey to embrace who we are and to love that person; to understand, to know and to feel that we are all special and unique.   

I am a believer in meditation, prayer and self-reflection. These are at the core of my beliefs and I encourage all to practice a reflection of self in a manner that allows a connection to the spirit within.

I begin each day in reflection of myself and what I am most grateful for. This is followed by a mediation to align with my inner wisdom and spirit. It is during this time that I visually disconnect all the energy sources that may be attached at my roots and that no longer serve me. This allows me to take on the day refreshed and in the presence of the moment. 

My next step is to ask the Spirit Cards what I may most need to learn on this day and then pick a card.  This card typically provides insight throughout the day, but it also helps to begin the day with a peaceful energy.  I don’t ‘see’ the cards as negative, only from light, as we can always choose to learn from any experience or situation. This allows me to remain in the presence of the moment and takes out the ‘fear’ factor.

Each day ends with a reflection of my experiences throughout the day; giving gratitude and thanks for all experiences and lessons.  Experiences or situations that I felt that can be improved upon; I ask for guidance and then let them go. I begin each day mindfully, as a new opportunity to experience as much as I am able to, with an open mind and heart, without ego or judgment.

Each of these steps begins a conscious awareness of self as an awareness of our responses. We can then begin to choose responses that are in the highest interest of ourselves and all involved.  This is a gradual process and it is important to be mindful and patient with those around you; especially those that mean the most to you. Most importantly, this is a time that requires you to love and accept yourself wholly and unconditionally. 

Throwing out the Blame Game!

There may have been people along our journey that have provided much insight and love. The opposite is true, as well, there may have been those who have played a minor or major role in hurting you. I believe that it is only you that can put this hurt behind yourself; to give you strength to move forward or to take action. This requires giving ourselves permission to heal within. This is not to say that we are letting them off the hook, but letting ourselves off the hook, to also gain courage and strength knowing that they can no longer influence who we are. This is about Loving You!

Along your journey, you may also bring up old wounds or discover that in the past you have not have acted or reacted introspectively in line with your new consciousness. This is a new perception that is reflective of your mindful awareness. It is essential at this time to be loving and gentle with yourself, to forgive yourself as there is no blame. Allow yourself to learn, bless the lesson and move forward. 

Tools~

The key to living our lives authentically is to be true to who we are, at the very core of our being. The key to this is the knowledge, awareness and acceptance that our thoughts are our own. The next step is to begin to live mindfully, with a mindful awareness, which results in a more natural flow. We then become conscious of our emotions, responses and reactions. 

This is a liberating experience; it may actually feel like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders as we embrace this new consciousness that we have the ability to choose our thoughts, emotions and feelings. This can also be a bit intimidating at first; after all, it is a new experience and the essence of accountability. I have learned many empowering tools in this regard.  I encourage you to learn and practice the tools regularly to form a new ‘habit’ when dealing with whatever comes your way. If you see an experience as bad or negative, that will be your experience. If you choose to open up to a whole new awareness with love at the core, then the experience can be rewarding. Taking ownership for your thoughts, feelings, emotions and actions also allows for more meaningful relationships with others, as well as yourself. 

For MORE...  Being You, Authentically. Living It* Loving You* is available at CreateSpace.