Here are Ten Ways...
1. Stop all criticism of yourself. Accept and approve of yourself as the MAGNIFICENT being of love and light that you truly are. Make the decision to no longer judge yourself, but instead appreciate yourself.
2. Forgive yourself. You are doing the best you can. Let the past go and FREE yourself. When you forgive yourself, you release the suffering and choose peace for yourself.
3. Be nurturing, compassionate and gentle with yourself. Don’t scold yourself, but treat your beautiful self with kindness and care. People are often harsh on themselves and find it much easier to be loving and kind to others. Treat yourself the way you would your dearest friend or a loved one.
4. Place your hand on your heart and feel your heartbeat. Connect with your physical heart and feel its LOVE. Then tell your heart I Love You. Do this everyday. Beginning each morning doing this is a wonderful practice to send love to your beautiful sacred heart and whole being.
5. Do activities that bring you JOY! Make time daily to do things that make your heart sing. Even with a busy schedule, you can always make a little time to have fun. If you feel you just don’t have time in your daily schedule, then you really need to make time to do this! And as you do, you nurture, support, and bring joy to your inner child.
​6. Nourish your mind with supportive thoughts about yourself. Praise yourself often throughout the day. Give yourself the encouragement you need.
7. Don’t scare yourself. Sometimes people imagine the worst-case scenario of a situation arising instead of the best-case scenario. It’s safe to release your fears and trust that everything always happens for your highest good. All is well. You are a success always!
8. Nourish and nurture your body with healthy foods and beverages and relaxing therapies. Support your body with the fuel needed for its optimal health and well-being. Enjoy a relaxing massage or reiki session etc.
9. During meditation, visualize the divine, unconditional love that resides within your sacred heart, radiating out and filling all the cells of your body. All the cells, organs, muscles, tissues, and your whole body and mind is infused with love.
10. Give yourself a hug! Wrap your arms around yourself right now and tell yourself “I LOVE YOU!” Feel the love within your radiant heart, filling and encircling you in a beautiful cocoon of love.​​

You may download and/or print a copy of this list via this printer-friendly PDF version by clicking the button below. You can keep it handy, put it on your fridge or somewhere you will see it often as a reminder of the importance to nurture and cultivate self-love each day. 

Several years ago, in 2000, I was visiting an aunt in France with my parents and we travelled to the sacred town called Lourdes in the south of France. It is such a beautiful, small town, nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains. Lourdes is very sacred place where Mother Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette eighteen times over several months in 1858. Mother Mary asked Bernadette to dig in a specific area in the ground and soon after water began flowing there. This water is holy water and many miracles of healing have been reported. Millions of people travel there each year. When I was there, it was still a few years before I knew or learned about energy healing etc. However, one does not need to know details about energy, in order to feel and experience the powerful sacred energy. I remember as I touched the grotto walls and felt the flowing water in my hands, the powerful energy that filled my being. It was an amazing experience.

Mother Mary is an Ascended Master that we may call upon for assistance, guidance, and healing.  “There are those who have reached God directly, retaining no trace of worldly limits and remembering their own Identity perfectly. These might be called the Teachers of teachers because although they are no longer visible, their image can yet be called upon. And they will appear when and where it is helpful for them to do so. To those to whom such appearances would be frightening, they give their ideas. No one can call on them in vain. Nor is there anyone of whom they are unaware. All needs are known to them, and all mistakes are recognized and overlooked by them.”
~ A Course in Miracles (Manual for Teachers, 26.2).

I call upon Mother Mary daily to guide and assist me. In the past few years, when I had experienced physical distress (with gratitude I am now fine as the issue has resolved) I called upon the Blessed Mother immediately to intervene. And each time, I received assistance. I knew that her energy was present, enveloping me in her sacred healing light of love. There were times when I experienced pain and after laying down and calling upon her, she assisted with returning calm to the mind and the discomfort subsided. I was able to drift off to sleep. Upon waking the pain was gone. These were healing miracles. I normally do not discuss that journey of healing that experience with others, as it is not who I AM, is over, and is no longer part of my vibration. Each experience we go through in life is there to teach us something about ourselves and to help realign us to who we really are, our true divine essence. I have only chosen to share a little of that experience now, to perhaps offer a little upliftment and hope to anyone who may be feeling disheartened, afraid, or going through a challenging time, to know that you are never alone. Release your fears to the divine. You always have the loving support of the divine ready and joyfully awaiting to offer help at anytime. The divine resides no further than within your own sacred heart.​​

Mother Mary is also wonderful to call upon to assist with issues of self-love, forgiveness, grief, sadness, and self-empowerment. You can ask her to help with healing and/or further expansion of your heart center (chakra) and inner light so that you may live aligned to your heart. Or simply call upon her or ask her to come to you during meditation/quiet contemplation to receive her loving energies and be open to receive her light! Don't be surprised if you experience waves of loving energy being infused into your heart center and whole being when you do. Ask and you shall receive in the perfect way that is best for you.
​
As mentioned, Mother Mary is available to assist anyone and everyone. One does not need to have specific spiritual or religious beliefs. Unconditional love, which is what she is and represents is open to all! I wanted to share some of my experiences at this time because she has been and continues to be a very important part on my path. For me, she has been one, if not the most, powerful healing light in my life. I am forever grateful for her loving support, healing miracles, guidance, and blessings. And I hope that by having shared my experiences, you know that the loving and healing power of Mother Mary is always available to you too.  You just need call upon her and ask for her guidance and support. And she will be with you. She already is because she is a part of all of us. The loving, nurturing mother, the divine feminine energy, resides within us all.​

​In Oneness and Light,
​Maya

PS. Have you had an experience or felt a deep connection to Mother Mary? Feel free to share your experience below. I always love to read your feedback.

UPDATE 2022: Beautiful gemstone pendants and bracelets are available on my online shop. They have been cleansed and anointed with Lourdes water making them an extra special gift for yourself or a friend! They have their unique crystal/gem properties, plus the Lourdes energy and they have also been infused with Holy Fire Reiki. Click here to view in shop.

​If you find these posts helpful, feel free to share them with those that are interested in the topics. ~Sharing is caring~ Let's spread the LOVE!

Often times when any health challenges arise, it is the body’s way of trying to give you a deeper message.  Often the message is that there is something in your consciousness that is not in alignment with your inner truth and it is surfacing so that it may be noticed and healed.  Your body is likely asking you to let go of all the busyness and worries and to take time to nurture and connect with your inner self.  The health issue is then forcing a person to relax in order to heal.

If you are experiencing a health challenge you can choose to look at it as an opportunity to make any necessary, positive changes in your life that your body is guiding you to make.  Taking this type of approach will assist you with empowering your health.  Releasing the resistance to the natural flow of well-being within is key.  Well-being is always available because you are always connected to Source Energy within.  Healing happens within and through you rather than externally.  Healing is alignment with well-being.
 
The following are a few methods that support the natural flow of healing within.

1.  Live In The Present Moment.  Do your best to remain in the present moment.  The NOW moment is where you will ever be in any given time so place your attention here.  This will help to release any worries about the future and keep from being stuck in the past.  Focussing on your breath, quieting the mind, being aware of the ever-flowing energy of Source within, will instantly bring you clarity of mind and keep you in the present moment.  Taking several moments to focus on your breath and stilling the mind throughout your day, especially when any tension arises, will bring you to your place of power within.

2.  Envision your body having optimal health right now.  Whatever your current state of health, visualize/imagine exactly how you want it to be and how you want to FEEL. Make this your focus.  For example, if you are currently experiencing any pain, visualize and allow yourself to FEEL what it would be like for your whole body to be relaxed without any pain or discomfort.  Or if mobility is an issue, visualize yourself doing an activity that you love, moving with complete ease and comfort.  And again FEEL how it would be like to be doing these things and the great joy and sense of freedom it would bring you.   What are other feelings that you’d experience if you no longer had the health condition?
It is the FEELING aspect that it is most important because it is our feelings that create our experiences.  Taking a few minutes a day to sit quietly/meditate and visualize and FEEL your body functioning optimally is such a powerful exercise.  If there is a specific organ that is experiencing distress, bring your inner attention to that area and visualize it working optimally right now like there was never a problem there.  Interestingly, the subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined.  So this again points out the power on doing such an exercise regularly.  Visualize all the cells of your body in perfect health.  Visualize/intend that each of your cells is being infused with LOVE.

If you are concerned about the health of another person, you would do the same thing, but visualize him/her how you would want to see that person and the health condition already healed.

3.  Release any beliefs that are not in alignment with the Truth of who you are.  In Truth, you are One with Source Energy which is all-powerful and you have all resources within.  If you feel helpless or like a victim because the health condition is genetic or notice that you are blaming another for your health or happiness then you are giving away your power.  This could also be a subconscious deservability issue in that you may feel you don’t deserve optimal health because it runs in the family.  With such health conditions, often times it is actually the emotional/mental pattern of a condition that is passed on through the generations.  For example, you may share the same tendency to worry, over-analyze, or deal with stress in the same manner as your parents.  However, by shifting the pattern, the physical manifestation will automatically be shifted as well.  If you do have any such beliefs simply let them go.  Ask your inner self to help you to release these beliefs permanently.  It is important to return the focus back to you and choose what brings you the most peace.
 
4.  Be aware of what you tell yourself and others about your health.  The physical body responds to everything that you think and say about yourself.  The body is made up of about 70% water and easily absorbs the messages/vibrations that it receives.  Be mindful of what messages you are giving your body.  Just observe, without any self-judgement, the thoughts that arise in your mind and the words you speak, and then simply choose to let go of those that are not nurturing.  Instead choose those that are loving, supportive, and nurturing to your health/well-being.  It is important to just observe and stay detached from them as they are only thoughts and not who you are.  As such, they can be released/changed.   

Sometimes a person may develop a strong attachment to a health condition and make it part of his/her identity.  In such a case, rather than seeing the condition as something they are currently experiencing, they think of it as something that they are.  This can create a sense of hopelessness/disempowerment.  It is also important to be mindful of what one states aloud and as a result is reinforcing about one's health.   Thinking and speaking about how you want your health to be, rather than on what it is you don't want, gives the body a totally different message that promotes positive change and healing support.  It promotes the natural flow of well-being within rather than resisting/blocking the possibility of healing with limiting beliefs.

Nourish your body with uplifting, positive thoughts and statements so that it knows that you are now open to improved health/well-being and solutions.  This will automatically shift/raise the vibrational frequency of your thoughts and mind and open the door to healthy change.  Take a moment each day to bless your body.  Give thanks to your body for being the temple for your beautiful and divine spirit.  Thank it for all that it does and supporting you on your life’s journey. 

5.  Surround yourself with positive, loving and supportive people.  It is important to be around people who help to uplift your spirit and that will be supportive of any healthy and positive changes you are making in your life.  It is also perfectly fine to take more quiet time for yourself as needed.  As you continue to grow and move forward on your path, your ideas and beliefs may often change along the way.  Therefore, you may feel that certain situations, people, or places no longer resonate with your new ways of being.  This is all normal and part of the process.  Allow those things that are no longer resonating with you to simply fall away.  This will then automatically create an energetic space in which new opportunities, people, and situations that are a match for your new vibration to enter your life.

6.  Have an attitude of gratitude each day.  When you first awake in the morning, take a few moments to give thanks for all the blessings in your life.  For example, as you lay in bed be thankful for the simple things like the fresh air you are breathing and your comfy bed.  Be grateful for your life, knowing that you have the power within to create the reality you wish to experience.  Think of a few things and throughout the day try to stay in an attitude of gratitude.  Gratitude has the same vibration as love.  And when you can focus on the good things as they arise, then your inner spirit/universe will bring you even more such things that give you joy, pleasure and that which you are grateful for.

Always be gentle, kind, and loving to yourself!

"Love is the great miracle cure.  Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives." 
                                                        ~  Louise Hay

Peace and blessings,
Maya

Crystals are gifts from Mother Nature and are a spiritual tool that radiate love and light and can assist us on the path of awakening to our True Self.  They reflect back to us the love and light that we truly are.  Crystals raise our vibration and consciousness and align us to our divine essence, as we remember our Oneness with Source and all that is. 

Throughout the ages crystals have been valued as sacred gifts from nature.  The peoples of various civilizations including the Egyptians, Mayans, Natives of America and Africa, and Celts, worked extensively with crystals, with a deep understanding of all the gifts they offer.  Crystals were also very important and widely used in Atlantis and Lemuria.  There is much that we can learn from our crystal friends.  They have much to teach, guide and assist us with and we need only tune into their energies to receive their wisdom and support.  

Crystals help to bring us into deep meditative states and assist us in having a clearer connection with our inner power and higher self, guardian angels and enlightened spirit guides, and with the ascended masters and archangels.  Every person has guardian angels that provide us with unconditional love, support, and assistance.  We need only ask for their assistance and they will.  Similarly, crystals each have a nature angel with them.  All living things have life force energy/Source Energy flowing within their being.  Crystals and minerals are the cells, organs, glands, and nerves of Mother Earth.   Nature's angels are the guardian angels of the mineral kingdom, plants, and animals. 

It is a good idea to spend time with your personal crystal(s) so that you can develop a connection with it and attune to its energies.  Please make sure you safely cleanse any new crystals you have beforehand (and continue cleansing them on a regular basis to keep their energy clear and high vibrating).  Spend time with your crystal regularly.  Hold it and feel its energy.  Look at its structure and gaze within it.  What thought, images, or feelings come to mind?  Allow your senses to fully open.  Take a journey within your crystal and connect with the wisdom of the guardian angel that works through your crystal.  See below for your free guided meditation to help you to do so!  Ask your crystal to help you with whatever you would like assistance with at this time.  Perhaps you'd like help with making the most loving choices at all times, or would like to know the way to release the root cause of an illness or problem, or release any blocks to love or prosperity.  Record your observations in a journal.  As you work with your crystal in the days to come, continue writing in your journal so that you can observe how things are showing up in the outer world in the various aspects of your life and with regards to what you were asking assistance with from your crystal friend.

Crystals help us to remember the Truth of who we really are:  Beings of Love and Light that are One with Source Energy and all that exists.  They help us release any beliefs or patterns that are not in alignment to this Truth.  ​As we remove any blocks to love we sparkle radiant and bright just like a crystal.

I invite you to sign-up for my e-newsletter and receive my FREE MP3 guided meditation instantly!  Journey within your crystal, meet the guardian angel that works through your crystal, and receive divine insight, clarity, and guidance.  My gift to you.  Enjoy!

Everyone has their own unique way of receiving intuitive messages from their Higher Self/inner wisdom.  All of the answers you require can be found within.  Your Higher Self which is all-knowing and all-powerful and sees everything from a higher perspective, always knows exactly what is best for you in all aspects of your life including:  health, career, life purpose, abundance, relationships etc.  You just simply need to tune into your inner wisdom within.  It is very helpful to be aware of and understand your unique way that you receive intuitive guidance so that when you receive solutions and messages from your Higher Self, you will notice them as such.

One way of receiving guidance is visually with your inner vision and/or externally.  For example, images, scenes, or symbols that you see during meditation or while dreaming, or signs that you see with your physical eyes such as sparkling flashes of light or repeated number sequences (like 111, 333, and 444).  This is known as clairvoyance (clear seeing).  Clairaudience (clear hearing) is when you hear the guidance in your mind or externally with your ears.  Examples include:  over-hearing a conversation or hearing something on the radio or television that answers the question you are seeking an answer for, or hearing celestial music come from no physical source, or hearing a loving message in your mind.  Clairsentience (clear feeling) is when you receive guidance through your feelings (physical body and emotions).  Some examples are: air pressure or temperature changes coming on suddenly, sensing a spiritual presence, feeling sudden emotions like joy and excitement, feeling the emotions of others, or smelling a fragrance in the air that has no physical source.  Finally, claircognizance (clear thinking)  is when you receive guidance through your thoughts such as knowing something even though you may not know how or receiving inspired ideas or wisdom that seem to have come from someone else.  It is common for people to have a mix of all of these "clairs," with one that is more dominant.  Keep reading to find out what your dominant/primary clair is.

How Can I Tune Into My Higher Self?
Whether its during meditation time, or in a shorter moment of quiet stillness, you can simply close your eyes, and take several slow deep breaths to bring your attention inwards.  You can place your hands and attention on your heart center.  Ask your Higher Self for what you require at that moment.  If you would like answers to specific concerns, ask your Higher Self now.  Then simply relax for some time and notice if any images, thoughts or ideas come to mind or if you experience any sensations in your body.  If you are not sure if you are understanding the message you receive, simply ask for clarification.  You can also ask for repeated signs so that you are clear on the message.  Remain relaxed and do not strain yourself to receive a message.  Just BE, without any force or expectations as that can restrict the natural flow of intuitive guidance.  Sometimes the message may not come right at that moment, but often times it will show up later.  Do remember to pay attention in the days/weeks to come so that you can notice what shows up.  Taking a quiet walk in nature and being in the fresh air is very helpful for connecting with your Higher Self as well.

Having optimal health has always been important to me since I was a youth.  Some years ago, I wanted to find a solution to increase my iron levels.  I have always had a very healthy diet, eating lots of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables high in iron.  My iron levels at that time were normal, but in the low end of the normal range, which I wanted to improve.  It didn’t make sense to me why I didn’t have the optimal level with such a healthy diet and taking iron supplements.  The MD said that it could be normal for my body and that it was perfectly fine, but I still wanted to improve it to be at the optimal level.  So I went within for the answers, listening to my body.  Over the next while I kept getting messages about gluten.  I had already had the routine test that physicians give to check for celiac (gluten intolerance) which I didn’t have.  And at that time, the information about being gluten-sensitive, but not celiac, wasn’t as well-known as it is now.  I kept getting the thought though to “go off the gluten.”  I kept getting various intuitive messages on this topic which included books about switching to a gluten-free diet showing up.  One time my husband and I spent a few days out of the city in the countryside on a nature getaway and we decided to go into the very small library before returning.  As soon as I walked in, I noticed right in front of me, a book about going gluten-free.  So with the repeated messages I was receiving, I listened to the guidance and went off gluten completely right away.  More people nowadays are finding out that they are gluten-sensitive, and though they may not experience the same reactions to gluten that those with celiac do, having gluten (wheat and other gluten grains) in the system can affect the absorption of iron in the body and some may also experience other symptoms.

I decided to have my iron levels checked after three months being on a gluten-free diet.  When I had my levels tested they had doubled!  I had never before had such levels since I had been doing the iron tests.  What a great confirmation to myself that I was on the right track.  My MD thought that there must have been an error in the test since the results were not consistent with the results I had in the past, even though I had mentioned to her that I had switched to a gluten-free diet and that would medically explain the positive increase.  I knew that there was no error.  I repeated the test again about three months after that and had another a few months again after that while keeping the gluten-free diet.  My iron was continuing to maintain the improved higher levels since switching to gluten-free.  Even if my iron levels hadn’t improved, I would have stayed gluten-free anyway as my body felt happier and that gluten-free food tasted better too.  As another benefit, my hair grew thicker and fuller too, since hair health is affected by iron absorption.  So my point with this little example is that the answers are within you.  Whether you need guidance about your health, career, life purpose, or anything else, you hold the answers within.  Go within and ask for what you desire and the answers will always be revealed.  Relying on others to always tell you what to do in your life is disempowering as your own soul knows what is best for you.  You know yourself best.  Of course with certain things like health concerns, you should also consult a health professional.

You are always “connected” to your intuition.  It’s simply a matter of recognizing it and then following its guidance.  Have you ever done something or perhaps not followed through on an idea and then regretted it after thinking, “Oh!  If only I had listened to my gut!” or thought something similar.  Intuition is like a muscle.  The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.  And as it grows stronger, it becomes much easier for guidance and solutions to flow through you.  
So take a moment right now, take a deep breath, place your hands and attention on your heart center (chakra) and ask your Higher Self, “What do I need to know right now?”

Crystals are part of the mineral kingdom and are composed of silicon and oxygen. The human body is largely composed of these components as well.  At a cellular level, silica assists in maintaining our balance and has the same chemical composition as natural quartz crystal.  That is why crystals have such a powerful effect on us at all levels (body, mind, and spirit).  They naturally resonate with us because they are so similar to us at a cellular level.  Our bodies are like liquid crystal.
Crystals have the ability to transmit and intensify energies.  They help to balance everything they come in contact with.  They are able to clear blocked energies in the body and assist in restoring balance.  They respond to our emotions and thoughts, help bring us into deep meditative states and assist us in having a clearer connection with our higher self, angels and spirit guides. 

When you open yourself to the gifts that crystals have to offer, many transformations can occur.  The most important relationship is the relationship with self, and when that is in balance, then relationships with others are also balanced.  You are also much more easily able to create the reality you truly desire.  You hold the whole universe within and the reality that you experience externally is a result of the beliefs that you hold within.  By working with crystals your relationship with yourself is illuminated along with any old beliefs, barriers, or behaviors that are not in alignment with the Truth of who you are, which is a magnificent and all-powerful being that is One with Source Energy.  Once these things are illuminated and brought to the surface, you can then choose to release them permanently.  As you let go of that which is not for your highest good, your vibrational frequency rises.

Every mineral and element in the earth is also found within the human body.  They can be thought of as the cells, organs, and nerves of Mother Earth.  The different types have their own unique healing properties and they also resonate with various organs/glands within our bodies.  Therefore, they are very useful in helping to clear imbalances on all levels (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) and they strengthen specific parts of the physical body.
 
Various types of crystals can especially be helpful with releasing beliefs, barriers, and behaviors that are not for your highest good so that you may enjoy a healthier and more harmonious relationship with yourself.  For example, black tourmaline is helpful in releasing lower vibrational thought patterns and beliefs and promotes positive thinking.  Smoky quartz helps to let go of the past, while blue lace agate assists with releasing the fear of being judged or expressing your inner truth.  Rose quartz soothes and calms the emotions and promotes deeper self-love, aventurine helps with forgiveness, chrysocolla with inner child healing, and selenite brings calm and clarity to the mind, raises your vibrational frequency and assists with connecting more deeply with your higher self and the angelic realms.  These are only a few examples.  Allow your intuition to guide you to which crystal would like to work with you.  Your higher self has all the answers.

Deep relaxation, healing and profound positive and healthy changes can occur when you work with the crystal kingdom, and help you to be the true and happier you.  You shine more brightly and stronger just like a crystal!  They help you to raise your vibrational frequency to a much higher level.  Crystals can help you to remember your true self so that you may live consciously aligned to your true divine essence.