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Peace Begins Within

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Sandra Brossman

A man in a grassy field with the sun shining on him in a meditation pose

Most of us would admit that we long to live in a world of peace. Yet all we need to do to become aware of the hostility, violence, and turmoil within our physical world is to focus on the news and to give most of our attention to the people and situations within our lives that are causing the most disruption. The truth is that if we truly want to experience peace, we need to stop looking for it to appear in our exterior world and begin to create it within our own personal lives.

The emphasis is on the word create because peace is a sense of well being that originates from the inside, beginning with the intention of the heart. If we are “looking” for it, we will not be able to find it because peace is not a place that we can find outside of ourselves. The condition of our physical world is a giant mirror reflecting back to us the collective thoughts of every person who is part of our earth family. Since thought is creative, whatever we focus on expands. Therefore, what we are seeing in the non-peaceful aspects of our world is an indication that a large portion of our human society is predominantly focused on judgment, violence, greed, and crime.

We can point a finger of blame wherever and to whomever we want, but it does not change the truth that each one of us has played a part in creating the condition of the world in which we live. Perhaps it has been in seemingly minor, passive ways, such as getting caught up in the turmoil and conflict of the world by watching and listening to endless news reports of violence and acts of desecration. Or, it could be as intensively aggressive as being a perpetrator in a massive heinous crime. Judging who is “most wrong” renders us powerless and only creates more separation and discord between us and within our lives.

We can only change the quality of our collective personal reality by taking personal responsibility for the part we have each played in creating it. Since all change begins at the level of self, when we change our individual lives, the world around us changes as well. To create peace within your own life, try some of these basic ideas. You will be amazed at your power to create peace within your own life.

Meditate – Create a space of at least 20 minutes every day to sit in a place of peace and quiet. Your meditation can be as simple as sitting on your sofa and focusing on your breath. The importance of this cannot be overstated, for it is within the silence that you can remember your mind and body connection with Spirit.

Pray – Ask for divine guidance as to how you can best bring peace to the world; envision what a peaceful world looks like. Most importantly, imagine the feeling of peace within your own heart.

Forgive – Let go of the need to be right. All conflicts, whether it be in personal relationships or between countries, originate from the perception that one party is “right” and the other is “wrong.” Would you rather be right or do you prefer peace? (You may find it helpful to read my blog on Forgiveness, April 23, 2013.)

Live Consciously – Align your thoughts, words, and actions with the spiritual values of love, respect, peace, and cooperation. This requires diligent practice and is the most effective way to live a peaceful life. Be mindful of what you feed your mind – stop watching violent entertainment shows and videos and modify the amount of time you spend following the news. There is a difference between being informed and immersing yourself in the fear consciousness of the world. Instead, spend more time reading, watching, and listening to information that inspires you and nourishes your soul. What you put into your mind is what it feeds back to you.

Commune with Nature – Spend more time outdoors in the beauty of nature. Nature innately regenerates your body, mind, and soul and balances your energy.

By choosing thoughts of love, we automatically unite with other like-minded souls in forming a field of energy that has the infinite power to exponentially create a world of peace.

Love and Light,

Sandra

Sandra Brossman is the author of The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose and the featured presenter in Live the Life You Choose DVD. To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book or DVD box set at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/.

Embracing the Silence of Winter

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Sandra Brossman

This is the image of blue sky and a snowy scenery with footprints in the snow and snow covered trees

Just in case we have been taking ourselves too seriously by getting lost in our daily frenetic pace, Mother Nature has stepped in to provide us with the perfect antidote for an overactive schedule – Winter!

Over the past few months, most of our country has experienced some of the largest snowfalls, as well as the lowest temperatures, in recorded weather history. As if the forces of snow, ice, wind and freezing temperatures were not sufficient to slow us down, there were also record breaking numbers of power outages throughout the country. Many people were literally in the dark for up to five days. Impassable roads, temporary business shutdowns, and school closings have compelled us to hunker down in the warmth and shelter of our homes.

We are so accustomed to being over stimulated, that it may be difficult to identify this as being the perfect time to change our perspective and to see the winter as a gift.

While all of these extreme weather conditions have caused enormous inconveniences, they have also provided us with an unusual sense of silence. The soft, white cover of snow provides a quiet backdrop for reflection, rather like a blank canvas inviting us to become more introspective and creative. We can also use this time to become aware of the beautiful synchronicity within the rhythm of nature. Winter is a time when everything dies off or goes within itself to grow and be renewed until spring is here again. It is a time when many animals hibernate and plants shut down to store their energies until the warmth of spring arrives.

Below are seven insights that may change your perspective to see the wintertime as a blessing:

1. Go Within – Just as we have a tendency to stay indoors in the winter, it is a perfect time to go within ourselves to clear our minds and nurture our souls. This can be done through meditation, by reading a good book, or watching a favorite movie. The important point is that we get quiet time to relax. What you are actually doing is planting seeds for the longer and brighter days of tomorrow.

2. Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down – This time of year offers us the space and time to slow down. We often find ourselves craving a comfortable couch and a roaring fire. It makes us feel warm, happy, and sleepy. Also, there is nothing like staying in bed a little longer, snuggled up under the covers, enjoying the warmth.

3. Appreciate the Silence – The winter offers clarity within the silence. It is truly amazing to step outside after it snows and notice how crisp the air is and how quiet your surroundings are. The snow is a blanket that softens everything around you and creates a pause that allows you to appreciate the rarity of silence.

4. Spark Your Creativity – The void of darkness sometimes gives us the room we need to allow our creative mind to come alive. Have fun! This is the time to start an arts and crafts project or simply cook a meal that is out of the ordinary.

5. Savor the Simple Things – This quiet time offers you the opportunity to notice the small wonders of life such as hot soup, the texture of sheets, the warmth of a good fire, or how much fun it is to make a snow angel – even if you are an adult!

6. Spend More Time With Family and Friends – This is a wonderful time to do things you may not otherwise have had time to do, such as: baking cookies with the kids and grandkids, catching up on phone time with loved ones, playing games, and getting together for coffee, tea, or lunch with friends.

7. Embrace the Beauty of Nature – Indulge your senses by enjoying a brisk walk in the cold. Allow your eyes to feast on the beauty of the glistening snow, smell the clarity of the air, and listen to the silence.

Enjoy what is around you right now! You don’t need to “get away” literally. Most of us need to “get away” from our daily lives and our frenetic pace. You can do this anywhere, including right where you are.

Love and Light

Sandra

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose. To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/

The e-book version, regularly priced at $9.99 is presently being offered for only $1.99.

Inspiration From 2013

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

Fisheye lens view of the ocean with a beautiful sunrise with 2013 written in the sand

Each year provides inspiration and opportunities for growth. As 2013 comes to a close, I reflected on 10 inspirational moments and people of this past year.

This is an image of candles surrounding a photo of Nelson Mandela

1. Nelson Mandela – The death of Nelson Mandela was one of the most celebrated passings that I can ever remember. While the world is sad to have him no longer with us; in addition to mourning his death, everyone truly celebrated his accomplishments, what he stood for, and how he inspired millions of people worldwide to be better. He led by example – to the very end of his life.

This is the image of a memorial in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings

2. Boston Marathon – On April 15, 2013, the world witnessed one of the most gruesome acts. In the crowd of those waiting to celebrate their loved ones achieving a wonderful feat of completing the Boston Marathon, they instead faced terror. The inspiration of this tragedy came in the aftermath. Law enforcement came together to quickly apprehend the perpetrators. The survivors and the world came together to heal.

This is an image of Pope Francis reaching out to bless a child

3. Pope Francis – In March, he was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI resigned, being the first pope to resign in over 598 years. This year he has surprised many by reinvigorating the Catholic Church to be less about judgment and more about love. He has inspired millions and many are looking for him to lead the Church onward into the 21st century.

This is the image of a sign that says, "Equal Love, Equal Rights"

4. Legalizing Same Sex Marriage – equal rights for marriage stood out loud and clear this year, not only in the US, but in 15 other countries as well. Finally, the commitment to love, honor, and cherish your partner, whether they are the opposite sex or same sex, is transforming the world.

Tiles that look like white Scrabble tiles that spell the word, hope.

5. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight Rescue – On May 6, 2013, these three young women were rescued in Cleveland Ohio after being held captive for over 10 years. This amazing story of survival touched the hearts of the entire world.

This is an image of different scientific symbols and formulas denoting physics

6. 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics – Francois Englert and Peter W. Higgs were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their theory on how particles acquire mass. While this theory was independently proposed by both back in 1964, in 2012 their ideas were confirmed by the discovery of the Higgs particle. Their theory is a central part of the Standard Model of particle physics that describes how the world is constructed. While the Higgs particle was the missing puzzle piece to the Standard Model, it is not the final piece to the cosmic puzzle. So…more to come!

7. Stock Markets Surge – After years of wondering whether our financial system would recover, we had record breaking returns in the stock market, unemployment figures are down, and the US Federal Reserve may begin to reduce their stimulus package as the economy appears to be on its way to health and prosperity.

8. Malala Yousafzai – Malala is proof that at any age, at any time, you can make a difference. This brave little girl, an activist for education for all, became the youngest person ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Image of Healthcare Reform with small text of words evoked by this

9. Affordable Care Act – whether you like the Act or not, the fact is that healthcare for all is being implemented around the country. It is tough to say if this new system will work; but, we must acknowledge the inspiration behind the Act. The intention of having good healthcare available to all US citizens is certainly admirable. Let’s hope that 2014 brings with it more inspired implementation!

Close-up image of the hood of a Tesla automobile

10. Elon Musk – 2013 was a notable year for co-founder of PayPal, CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, and Chairman of Solar City. He is living proof that belief in your vision pays off. in 2013, after over a decade of hard work, Tesla has become the world’s most prominent maker of all-electric cars. He is also designing the “hyperloop” supersonic travel machine that would allow commuters to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 30 minutes or less using 100% solar power. Dare to dream!

This is the perfect time for you to reflect on what inspired you in 2013. Take time to become aware of the moments in life that mean the most to you. The past helps us to appreciate our life lessons and those life lessons inspire us to live our best life as our future unfolds.

Best wishes to all for continued health, harmony, abundance and joy in 2014.

Love and Light

Sandra

Remaining Centered During the Holidays

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

Now that Thanksgiving has just passed, most of us are feeling the accelerated pace of the world around us as we enter the official holiday season. It is very easy to become overwhelmed with shopping, visiting family and friends, preparing large family meals, attending special holiday performances, and traveling. This is the time of year where all the intense activity, in addition to the emotional highs and lows that accompany the holidays, can really take a toll on our health – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

In order to truly enjoy the holidays, it is essential to take time to regenerate yourself and to keep your energy balanced. The following are some ways to remain centered in the midst of all the hustle and bustle:

1. Stay in touch with your feelings – It is so easy to get carried away with all the outer stimulation that you can lose perspective on the signals you are getting from your mind and body. Periodically check in with your feelings and honor your needs. For example, if you feel tired, rest; if you feel overwhelmed, slow down the pace; if you feel sad, allow yourself to express your true feelings.

2. Determine what matters most to you – Quite often, we are so busy reacting to the demands of the holidays that we lose sight of what we most want to experience. Write down a list of the people whom you most want to see and the activities that you enjoy the most and make them a priority. You may discover that there are quite a few activities that had already been scheduled that you actually prefer not to have on your list.

3. Have reasonable expectations – The main reason that people become discouraged and disappointed with the holidays is that they have unrealistic expectations that are not met. Thinking that every member of your family is going to get along at the family reunion, that you are going to cook a perfect meal that pleases everyone, and that you are going to be on an emotional high throughout the holidays is bound to create disappointment.

4. Focus on the simple pleasures – The most fulfilling experiences frequently do not cost a lot of money. Taking a walk with a friend or relative, making cookies with children, playing games, reading by the fireside, and volunteering at a local charity are but a few of the experiences that nurture the heart with little or no demand on the pocketbook.

5. Express gratitude – Being thankful opens your heart and creates the opportunities to being in the flow and to savoring the positive within everyone and everything that you are experiencing, however it unfolds. Accept that every holiday is different and perfect in its own way.

6. Breathe, breathe, breathe – We all have a tendency to “hold our breath” when we are busy and under stress. Simply creating frequent times throughout the day to take some deep breaths is a great way to diffuse stress.

Most importantly, the true meaning of the holiday season is to remember our heart connection with others through the power of love. By being kind to yourself and honoring your own needs, you create a balanced foundation from which to share your love with others in a peaceful way.

Love and Light,

Sandra

Natural Disasters Remind Us That We Are All One

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

This is the image of a mountain range with beautiful magenta flowers in the foreground

The super typhoon, Haiyan, that roared through the Philippines last week is one of the most powerful storms recorded in history. At least 10,000 people have been killed and about 70 to 80 percent of everything in its path was swept away.

When nature unleashes its phenomenal powers, we are compelled to take notice. It is times like these that we become acutely aware that we are all part of one human family, and that we are being called upon to come together to support each other and to bring balance to our earth in any way that we can.

Regardless of our race, nationality, sex, creed, age, or socioeconomic status, we are one human family interdependent and interconnected with each other and with all the elements of nature. Although we are each different in appearance and expression, we walk the earth together and share the same sun, moon, stars, oceans, and sky with each other, as well as with the animals, flowers, trees, grass, and rocks. The way we take care of our planet is the way it takes care of us. When any part of our ecosystem is out of balance, we become individually and collectively imbalanced. When an animal, plant, or mineral becomes depleted, we have also lost a part of ourselves. Like a circle of dominos, what affects any one of us automatically impacts every one of us.

Natural disasters, such as typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes are all indications that our beloved Earth is seeking to balance itself. Water is traditionally a symbol of emotion. Since nothing is separated, when the waters of the earth create destruction and seem out of control, it is possibly a mirror image of humanity’s emotions also being destructive and out of control. Because we are a part of the earth, and the earth is part of who we are, every person has the power to contribute to the healing of our planet through the energy of divine unconditional love. Through prayer, we have the collective creative power to transform our earth.

I invite you to say this prayer every day and to share it with many others. It will change your life; and in so doing, you will contribute to the healing of the world at large. Breathe in deeply, express each word slowly and with intention, imagine the beauty of a world of Oneness, and feel it in your heart as though it is already manifest. Our thoughts create our reality, so one can only imagine the infinite transformational energy that can be generated by the majority of our world population uniting with each other in this vision prayer for global healing.

A Vision of Oneness

I am at one with the Source of Universal Light and the Ultimate Expression of Universal Love.

I am an open, active channel receiving and expressing unconditional love.

I am thankful for all that is.

I am joyfully experiencing peace within, health at all levels of my being, and abundance in all forms that are in my greatest good.

I see my personal healing contributing to a
World of Unconditional Love, Harmony, Wholeness, Abundance, and Joy.

I surrender this vision to the unconditional love of the Universe.

I know this prayer is answered in ways that are for the

greatest good of all.

(Excerpt from “The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose”,

By Sandra Brossman)

Love and Light,

Sandra

For more information on how you can help to heal disasters and tragedies, you may find it helpful to access a former blog, What Can I Do To Help Heal the Disasters and Tragedies Within the World.

For more information on healing your life, order the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.

The Path to World Peace Begins Within

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

this is an image of a heart-shaped earth with clouds and a rainbow symbolizing world peace

As the debate over whether U.S. lawmakers should give President Obama authorization to launch a military strike against Syria continues, many of us are once again feeling the enormous inner conflict and deep sadness that comes with trying to reconcile the stark contrast between war and peace. Because our natural spiritual state of being is unconditional love, I truly believe that, at a soul level, every human being desires peace. The question is: How do we create it?

The emphasis is on the word “create” because peace is a sense of well being that originates from the inside, beginning with the intention of the heart. If we are “looking” for it, we will not be able to find it because peace is not something that comes to us from the outside. The condition of our physical world is a giant mirror reflecting back to us the collective thoughts of every person who is part of our earth family. Since thought is creative, whatever we focus on expands. Therefore, what we are seeing is an indication that part of our human society is predominately focused on judgment, violence, greed, and crime.

To create peace within your own life, try some of these basic ideas. You will be amazed at what unfolds!

Meditate – Create a space of at least 20 minutes every day to sit in a place of peace and quiet. Your meditation can be as simple as sitting on your sofa and focusing on your breath. The importance of this cannot be overstated, for it is within the silence that you can remember your mind and body connection with spirit.

Pray – Ask for divine guidance as to how you can best bring peace to the world; envision what a peaceful world looks like. Most importantly, imagine the feeling of peace within your own heart.

Forgive – Let go of the need to be right. All conflicts, whether it be in personal relationships or between countries, originate from the perception that one party is “right” and the other is “wrong.” Would you rather be right or do you prefer peace? (You may find it helpful to read my blog on Forgiveness, April 23, 2013.)

Live consciously – Align your thoughts, words, and actions with the spiritual values of love, respect, peace, and cooperation. This requires diligent practice and is the most effective way to live a peaceful life.

Be mindful of what you feed your mind – Stop watching violent entertainment shows and videos and modify the amount of time you spend following the news. There is a difference between being informed and immersing yourself in the fears of the world. Instead, spend more time reading, watching, and listening to information that inspires you and nourishes your soul. What you put into your mind is what it feeds back to you.

Commune with Nature – Spend more time outdoors in the beauty of nature. Nature regenerates your body, mind, and soul and balances your energy.

Even though the status of the world may seem overwhelming and out of our personal control, we each have the power to contribute to world peace. It begins with our personal lives, starting in this present moment. Every person makes an enormous difference in creating harmony within the world. Like a drop of water, every single thought we have ripples out into the massive sea of the collective thoughts of all humanity. By choosing thoughts of love, we automatically unite with other like-minded souls in forming a field of energy that has the infinite power to exponentially create an entirely new world.

NOT ONLY CAN WE CREATE WORLD PEACE,

IT IS OUR SACRED MISSION TO DO SO!

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Love and Light,

Sandra

What Can I Do To Help Heal the Disasters and Tragedies Within the World?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

This is an image of a hurricane from space

Monday’s news of a massive tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, that devastated thousands of homes and demolished an elementary school, speaks to all of us. Pictures of the broken remnants of homes, cars, trees, and roadways looked like tinker toys haphazardly torn apart and scattered to the wind. At least 24 people were killed, including 9 children.

Looking at these pictures and hearing and seeing broadcasts of people sharing their heartbreaking stories of losing all their material possessions, and in some cases their loved ones, goes right to the heart. What also typically accompanies this deep feeling of empathy and compassion for the pain and suffering of those who lost their lives and property is a feeling of helplessness. The more we follow the media on disastrous events such as this, the more our emotions of fear intensify, causing us to feel even more powerless to help those in need.

Of course, it is only human to be disturbed whenever disaster and tragedy strikes because we are spiritually connected, so what hurts one of us affects every one of us in some way. On the other hand, because of this spiritual connection, it is also true that every one of us has the power to have a positive healing effect on others. With this in mind, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by adding to the healing energy of the world.

What Can I Do To Help?

The following is a list that offers some suggestions as to how each one of us can make a difference by adding to the healing energy of the world. This entire exercise takes only a matter of minutes:

1) Limit your exposure to the media coverage of tragic events

Being aware of the world news is important. Of course, we need to know what is going on so we can be intelligently informed of the condition of the world around us. However, if you continue to be glued to your TV and stay focused on media recounts of tragedies and disasters, you are very likely to become mesmerized by the drama. This causes you to stay stuck in fear. When we are in fear, we are powerless to make positive changes within our personal lives, as well as in the lives of others.

2) Set an intention of love and healing

When things in the world are upsetting you, stop for a couple of minutes, take some deep breaths and imagine the energy in your head is moving down into your heart. When your energy is focused in your heart, you are shifting from focusing on the fear within your mind to the love within your heart. Think of someone or something you love – it could be a person, an animal, or a beautiful aspect of nature such as a sunset, blue skies, or flowers. Allow yourself to feel the energy of your heart becoming more expansive and filling your body.

3) Remind yourself that you are connected with Universal Love

Imagine that there is a beautiful cord of brilliant white light connecting you with an infinite field of love and light. Remembering this will help you to feel more peaceful, hopeful, and innately powerful.

4) Use your imagination

Envision the situation and location that you would like to be healed, such as in this case, the area of Moore, Oklahoma and all of its inhabitants. You may perceive this situation in many ways. Perhaps you will see darkness, feel heaviness, or envision people who need help. Whatever you sense is OK – It is simply becoming evident to you what is calling to be healed. Now imagine everything and everyone you are perceiving is in a bubble of brilliant white light, connected to the Source of Universal Love. Ask that whoever and whatever you are perceiving is blessed by the love and light of the Universe.

5) Trust your intuition

You may sense many things, such as light, colors, images, and tones. There is no need for you to logically understand what you are seeing or feeling. If you have set the energy of your intentions in love and healing, whatever comes through your imagination is your unique contribution to the healing of the people and situations you have intended be healed.

6) Release from the process

Take a deep breath and gently let go of whatever you are working with. You do not have to stay linked to the situation. In fact, by helping in this way, you are likely to feel much more peaceful and loving. Also, remember that you can return to this healing process anytime for anyone and anything.

7) Take Action

Constantly talking about the disasters and traumas of our world does little good. Instead, take action in whatever ways you feel guided to do, such as: making financial contributions, joining prayer groups, volunteering to help clean up damaged areas, donating food and clothes, to name a few.

Remember, every tragedy and disaster is an opportunity for each one of us to assist with the healing of the world by focusing our attention on divine love and light.

YOU DO MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE!

Love and Light,

Sandra

Gender Equality

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

This past Sunday, we celebrated Mother’s Day, which we associate with the feminine role in our society. We are now looking forward to Father’s Day on June 16, which we connect with the masculine role within our world. Since we are presently in the gap between these two gender-associated holidays, it feels like the perfect time to discuss a topic which is currently getting a great deal of attention and publicity: Gender equality.

Gender equality, is also known as sexual equality, equality of the genders, and gender neutral. All of these terms imply that men and women should receive equal treatment. The concept is based on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and the ultimate aim is to provide equality in law and equality in social situations, especially in democratic activities and securing equal pay for equal work.

There are presently two books on the New York Times Best Seller List that are delivering powerful messages about the importance of gender equality: Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, urges women to pursue their careers without ambivalence. The other book, The Athena Doctrine, by John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio, discusses how the feminine values of nurturing, listening, and collaborating are redefining success for both genders. It is very interesting to note that Sheryl Sandberg is a woman advocating for females to invoke more masculine qualities; and John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio are men calling for business to incorporate what is viewed as feminine values.

Everyone has both a masculine and a feminine side

It is important that we do not confuse this topic with perceiving that this is a battle of male vs. female. Whether we are male or female, and no matter what our sexual preferences are, everyone has both a masculine and a feminine side. This is the yin/yang energy that has been referred to in Asian cultures for thousands of years. There are certain characteristics that are inherent within both masculine and feminine energy. Masculine energy (yang) deals with the strength of the self and the value of your own life. Some of the qualities we attribute to being masculine are: power, aggression, survival, focus, and decisiveness. Feminine energy (yin) is more tuned into the value of the life of others and letting others take control of their own lives. Some of the qualities we associate with being feminine are: intuitive, gentle, nurturing, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of others.

For thousands of years, the collective energy of our world has been primarily masculine in nature. Business, in particular, has been dominated by masculine energy because it has been focused on competition, power, and the bottom line. While up to this point in our evolution, this predominance of masculine energy has been appropriate in order to survive, an excess of masculine energy is being reflected in our social problems of greed, violence, and crime. This is not to say that masculine energy is bad – far from it! It is an extremely important component in our society, but we need to realize that it is imperative to maintain a balance of masculine energy as we bring in more feminine energy. The key word here is BALANCE.

The fact that the issue of gender equality is moving to the forefront of our attention is an extraordinary sign that humanity is evolving to a much higher perspective than we have been in the past. We are being called upon to integrate the masculine qualities of focusing on the strength of self and being action oriented with the feminine qualities of being compassionate and responsive to the genuine needs of others.

The energy of Universal Love is a perfect balance of feminine and masculine energy. While the world around us may seem pretty tumultuous right now, we can find great inspiration in knowing that we are beginning to integrate our masculine and feminine qualities internally and externally. As we each discover the balance of masculine/ feminine energy within ourselves, it is being reflected in the conditions of our outer world. Humanity is beginning to move out of polarity and into our spiritual truth of ONENESS!

I welcome any stories you choose to share regarding your struggles and successes on your personal journey toward gender equality.

Love and Light,

Sandra

Mother’s Day – A Perfect Day for Healing

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

This is an image of a mother holding her child above her head at sunset

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Mother’s Day, a holiday proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, is a day of celebration in which we honor mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds. The power and influence of mothers and maternal figures in our personal lives and in our society is beyond measure. Mothers and grandmothers are the core strength of the home, the creators of life, the nurturers of children, our first teachers, our female role models, and our indispensable companions. Most importantly, when we think of a mother’s love, we frequently think of the unconditional boundless love that is the closest human expression of divine love.

Mother’s Day, like all holidays, elicits different feelings for each one of us. Whether we think our mothers did a “good” job or a “bad” job of raising us, the truth is that our mothers played an enormous role in helping us to form our system of values, sense of self, foundation of security, and, in general, the initial foundation for all of our perceptions in life.

Some of us were fortunate to be raised by mothers or mother figures who were confident, strong, and a model of unconditional love. If this is the case, the mere mention of the word “mother” conjures up feelings of warmth, nurturing and safety. If you are one of these people, Mother’s Day is a joyful day where you are inspired to cherish and appreciate your mother and buying a card, giving a hug, and saying “I love you” feels completely natural.

If your mother has passed on, this may be an especially sad time of year as you recognize that losing a mom creates a void that no one else can fill in your life. Who could ever understand you, unconditionally accept you, and always love you the way your mother did?

And then there are others who have had a vastly different experience. There are many people who attribute the root cause of most of their pain and problems to their mothers. In working with clients over many years in my spiritual healing practice, I discovered that blaming our mothers for our shortcomings is the deepest underlying issue for almost every major healing issue: mental, emotional, and physical. In fact, I observed that our mothers have so much influence in our lives that when a mother would heal a painful issue, the child (whether young, middle age, or old) was automatically positively affected; and, conversely, when the child (of any age) would heal, the mother would also be positively affected.

From a spiritual perspective, the soul of a child chooses his or her mother, and the mother chooses the child. Because our life journey is all about becoming whole, we choose parents from whom we learn what we most need to know – we fulfill these lessons in both positive and negative ways. If, for example, our mothers did not praise us very much, it could be that our souls needed to remember that we get our genuine validation from within ourselves – not from external sources. On the other side of the coin, mothers learn just as much from their children. For example, a child with learning differences may be teaching a mother all about patience and acceptance.

The single most important factor that affects our relationships with our mothers is our own attitude. As children, we typically had great expectations of all the qualities we wanted our mothers to have — we wanted her to be our Rock of Gibraltar, the model of an ideal woman, have the patience of Job, and express the love of an angel. As we mature, we need to accept that our mothers are human and that they have had to deal with issues that were passed on to them by their parents. I truly believe that most mothers love to the best of their capacity and want the very best for their children. I also think most mothers would agree that motherhood is simultaneously the both most difficult and rewarding job in all the world.

Unconditionally accepting our mothers for who they are (or were) is our greatest lesson in compassion and forgiveness. Since we are inextricably connected with our mothers, forgiving them for their shortcomings and for falling short of our expectations is the same thing as forgiving ourselves for carrying forward any unhealthy patterns which need to be healed. And when you think about it, who better than our mothers to teach us this magnificent lesson.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Love and Light,

Sandra

Trying to Make Sense of Violence

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Sandra Brossman

This is an image of an indigo candle surrounded by flowers

The bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon on Monday, compounded by the recent shootings in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and the Sandy Hook School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, has caused many people to ask some very big questions, such as: “What in the world is going on?” “What can we do to help?” and “What is the spiritual message in all of this?”

As we all attempt to make some sense of these violent acts, let’s walk through these questions together, one at a time.

“What in the world is going on?”

Humanity is in the process of an enormous transformation, beyond what we have ever experienced. We are being called upon to create a new physical reality based on the spiritual truth of unconditional love. The opposite of love is fear. The violence we are seeing is not being forced upon us by a vengeful God. We have been given the gift of choice – we can choose to focus on love or we can choose to focus on fear. Our thoughts create our reality, so whatever we are thinking and doing that is not in alignment with unconditional love is now coming to our attention in a gargantuan way. Violence is is a symptom of a social disease much the same as cancer is a symptom of a major malfunction of the physical cells. Of course, it is only human to have strong feelings of deep grief and anger when we experience and witness these atrocities. We need to feel these feelings to move through the pain. But ultimately, as much as we would like to blame external circumstances and perpetrators of crime as the sole reason for violence, this does not get to the root of the healing. Because humanity is interconnected through Spirit, the true healing lies in each one of us taking responsibility for the fact that every one of us plays a part in forming the condition of our society.

What can we do to help?

First and foremost, we need to look within our own lives. As Malcolm Gladwell states in his famous book, The Tipping Point, “the smallest things make the biggest difference.” Resolving our personal conflicts in peaceful ways, being compassionate and non-judgmental, exercising random acts of kindness to friends and strangers, helping others in time of need, and honoring the divinity within all people by respecting our differences, are but a few of the ways we can personally make an enormous impact on the healing of the entire world. We don’t have control over what others think, say, and do, but we do have control over how we conduct our own personal lives. Just as one person can start an epidemic of disease, so also can one person start a movement of spiritual healing.

On a larger level, we can forgive ourselves and each other. Yes, I said forgive. Forgiveness does not mean we condone another person’s behavior, or that we agree with someone, or that we have given up. Far from it! When we forgive we stop judging, and we exercise the grace of surrendering our attachment to the pain and suffering of this world to a Higher Power. We can do this every day in every way by consciously choosing kind words and actions that are aligned with what we want to see, saying prayers, and meditating. In other words, get in touch with practicing anything that allows you to connect with your Soul. We don’t have all the answers, but we always have the opportunity to choose love over fear – and forgiveness is the highest form of human love. When we forgive, we transition ourselves from being a victim to that of being in a position of strength and compassion. From this higher perspective, we are in a position to genuinely be a support system to those who are the victims of violence. It is through forgiveness that we can bridge our present reality of fear to a new world of unconditional love.

What is the spiritual message in all of this?

Because we are human and we live in a world of separation, we need to see what separation (fear) looks like in its extreme form in order to comprehend the crucial need to come together as ONE. Have you noticed the extraordinary capacity people have to help one another during tragic events? Some of the ways in which we see this are: medical professionals tend to show up out of nowhere, police and fire officials immediately respond, spectators jump in to help anyone they can, even at the risk of their own lives, strangers volunteer to rebuild lives and properties, and people reach deep into their pockets to make financial contributions. During these trying times, we have learned that we need each other. We have also learned that prayer is much more than a religious experience – it is a human experience to connect with a Higher Power. Never before have so many people of different faiths, age, race, and nationalities come together to unite in prayers for the healing of humanity. When we are in desperate need, we tend to put aside our differences and get down to what really matters.

We ARE getting it! The common denominator for all of humanity is LOVE.

Love and Light,

Sandra