January 2012: Seize the Day

Every man dies.  Not every man really lives.  ~Braveheart

We've come so far, we've endured so much. It's time. It's our time. It's time to start living... really living, really loving, really listening and really connecting. All of us on this human journey have paid a high price for the experiences that humanity as a whole has endured in the quest for the knowledge of good and evil. The data is in, the karma is clearing, the contracts have been completed and we stand at the brink of a massive re-entry into paradise. As we come out of stasis, awakening one by one to the full implications of this evolutionary journey we have been on, descending and ascending the tree of life, we now have perspective unlike ever before about where we have been, what we have been up to and where we are now headed.

Many prophecies speak of the "end times" or "end of time", which might only mean that we are no longer constrained by time, and that our consciousness has expanded so that we understand how to easily and quickly traverse alternate realities at will, thereby transcending time. Yet, that only gives us the ability to more wisely use clock time as a means to connect in the fourth dimension, with fifth dimensional consciousness and higher and experience our unique creations and expressions of love.

The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies a time in between, a moment of indeterminate time in which something special happens. In rhetoric kairos is "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved. We now have the ability to pierce the veils, to experience the light in these small moments. The power of the light is so potent and powerful that when we access these tiny shifts through sacred space, we can tap into our own divinity and the grace of the creator and perform outright miracles of manifestation, creation, healing and empowerment!

Yes, we are up for change, but we are not without the means to create something entirely new and filled with light and love beyond imagining. We're making room for full frontal contact with beauty, joy, peace, love, creativity, cooperation, unification and abundance in ways we have only dreampt of. Beware... magic is afoot...

How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.  ~Annie Dillard

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
January 01 - Carpe Diam: Sieze the Day
January 08 - The Role of Time & Space
January 15 - Humility, Awareness, Intention & Surrender
January 22 - How to Make Your Shadow Dance
January 29 - Sacred Circle Altar - New Beginnings 2012

January 2012 Affirmations
I seize the glory and power of each new day.
The time for change is here and now.
I claim my shadow and embrace the gifts it holds for me.
I dance with my shadow and turn into the light.
I acknowledge the full spectrum of my beliefs with humor and grace.
I make intentions through the powers of humility and awareness.
I surrender my intentions to my higher power.
I create sacred space for healing and enlightenment.
I accept full responsibility for my life.
Whatever has happened in my life has brought me to here and now.
I step outside of time to heal and empower my life.
I work with alternate dimensions and states of consciousness to move energy and manifest my destiny.
I continue to learn about and use spiritual tools to manage my energy.
I work with time in new and respectful ways.
I use the power of the earth, moon and planetary cycles to manifest and heal.
I look to my relationships, my higher self, guides and guardians to show me what I cannot see.
I honor difficult relationships as teachers, and am willing to release them into the light.
When I receive the lessons and messages from challenging situations they miraculously shift into the light.
I purify my intentions through the powers of love, compassion and forgiveness.
I am moved into action on behalf of all creation.
I am guided by angels and spiritual teachers.
I actively engage and communicate with my higher self.
I am a being of light, created with the intention of pure love.
I am capable of transforming anything into love.
I am a vessel of light and my cargo is love.
Love is born through the light within me.
I step into the land of the living as I cross the shores of my soul.

CoSL Sacred Circle Altar & Holiday Luncheon

 You cordially and especially invited to the Sacred Circle Altar with Holiday Potluck Luncheon immediately following on December 18, 2011 - Service begins at 9:45am - luncheon to immediately follow. We've got lots of "presents" for you and hopefully in return you can gain even more "presence". We've always got something fun and joyful up our sleeves! 

Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907

December 2011: True North

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. – Rumi

What do you love? And who do you love? When are you the most present in your life? What experiences bring you joy and put you in flow? How often do your encounter this in your day to day life? These are all important questions to ask ourselves. For as we do, we find our True North. True North is where we live... as in what makes us come alive, feel energized, inspired and blissful.

On the medicine wheel, the cardinal direction of North is the aspect of the earth and physical manifestation, our body and the actions that we take. It is in these actions that we truly stand in our power and operate from our True North as we walk the earth walk. As we come to know ourselves better, we come to understand the entire creation. As we gain understanding through the wisdom of the earth, we align all the wills to create our life through our unique purpose and passion, not simply from passing fancy or addiction.

During the Winter Solstice and Christmas season we give birth to the seeds of radiant light within our being. There isn't a better time to consciously plant the seeds of our most cherished desires into our heart for safe keeping, as more clarity and new intentions reveal themselves. The ability to tap into angelic forces, ascended masters and beings of light are very strong at this time and they are all awaiting to be called upon.

It's time to receive the wisdom of your Higher Self. The suffering is at an end and the New Earth holds the seeds of much beauty. Find your passion and you'll find where True North lives within you.

Your “true north” cannot be redirected by external pressures.  ~ Bill George


Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
December 04 - Direction, Pathways & Purpose
December 11 - Seek and Find, Ask and it is Given
December 18 - Sacred Circle Altar - Calling All Angels - followed by Holiday Potluck Luncheon
December 25 - 7pm Candlelight Ceremony/Meditation - Open House (No AM service)

December Affirmations
I am open to receiving guidance and direction from my higher self.
I am a being of light expressing love in the manifested world.
I create a world of beauty.
I walk in beauty.
I give my soul expression.
I am always creating through the loving intentions of my higher wisdom.
I deepen and strengthen my connection with the indwelling Spirit.
My love is my light.
I experience love in new ways.
I see the perfection of my path.
I am guided to my highest good through the process of life itself.
I am the intention of a loving creationary force for good.
I am the fulfillment of the desire for life.
I work with the cardinal directions for protection and creation.
I plant the seeds of realization for my highest good within my heart.
I awaken to my bliss.
I follow the pull of my grandest desires.
I trust that my joy will bring joy to the world.
I am a portal of light and I enlighten the world.
I call upon beings of light and angelic forces to guide and guard me.
I am created in the image of the Master of Light.
I shine my light on this earth, so that others may find their True North.
I merge with my higher self.
I am the light of the world.

Ritual Teachings from Ancient Atlantis

Welcome Seeker, Know Thyself! 
I want to share with you an ancient ritual that has a long oral tradition, passed from person to person, dating back to the lost civilization of Atlantis. I learned this ritual over 20 years ago and have followed these teachings ever since. It is by connecting to the earth in this sacred and powerful way that I first opened to the other earthly realms and could clearly see the tree nymph that nurtures the plant kingdom.  It is a magical journey like no other.


You will learn how to prepare your body to reach a higher level of vibration that will help you gain a closer connection to the earth.  You will learn how to follow the cycles of the year and perform ritual in a sacred way on the Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox.


For those who seek to embody the highest vibrations within their being, for those who resonate with the Christ consciousness, for those who wish to walk in the light of the divine, this ritual will show you how to embody that which what you wish to study so that it becomes part of your own vibration.


We will start in the winter when the Bear is in hibernation and the growing season is over, harvest has been celebrated and the earth has stilled her energy.  It is now when we will bury ourselves deep in the ground to begin storing energy for springs’ new growth.


Facilitator, Sunaria                                                        
Eva Sahlin Stulb                                                              
Serving the Light


Next Session: December 2012, Sunday - 3-5pm
Winter Solstice Ceremony
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
$10 (donated to space)
For more information contact: Rev. Renee Bledsoe, 239-560-6314 or Eva Stulb at 239-848-5398

Men's Circle of Recovery

“What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him.” - Louis L. Mann

It is our mission to offer men options to traditional 12-step programs. The Men's Circle of Recovery group encompass all parts of a sucessful recovery with the focus always on positive teachings. The approach is to recover the mind, body, and spirit through 12-step methods enhanced with spiritual, health and medicine wheel teachings. This group meets once a week for one hour. Our talking circle is the basis of the meeting. Through closeness with our Higher Power, there can be positive healing and addiction recovery. This is our program goal.... AHO! 

Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, Fl 33907

Facilitator: Butch Bridenbaker 

Email: Hawkspirit@comcast.net 

Phone: 239-470-1448 

November 2011: Grace & Gratitude

“Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.”   ~ Jackie Windspear

Grace and Gratitude go hand in hand. Without grace there is no gratitude and without gratitude there is simply no grace. Bringing these two concepts to life in our daily lives is probably one of the single most important things that we can do for both spiritual and material growth. Many feel as though grace is an elusive, fleeting thing in their life. While it is true that we cannot force a state of grace, it is also true that we can magnetize ourselves into a state of grace through an attitude of gratitude. And gratitude can be cultivated by becoming more aware and raising consciousness, seeing new perspectives and having compassion for self and others. This is the energy of the times as the month of November ushers in a very special ritual called Thanksgiving. Yet, Thanksgiving becomes a daily occurrence when you are in a state of grace. As we start to notice the deeper, hidden meaning behind the events and circumstances of our life, we begin to realize just how miraculous and magical the creationary force is. We begin to get a sense at what we might be missing when we spend too much time railing about what is wrong and not seeing what is right. The more we see the beauty behind what is wanting expression, the more compassionate we are, the more we know that we are in grace... the more grateful we are.

You do not attract what you want. You attract what you are. ~Wayne Dyer

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
November 06 - Guest Speaker Rev. David Essel
November 13 - Embracing Grace
November 20 - Thanksgiving Giveaway Ceremony  - Sacred Circle Altar
(Bring a meaningful, but small gift for the Giveaway ritual if you so choose)
November 27 -  Abundant Living

November Affirmations

I am grateful for life.

I magnetize good into my life.

I am a unique manifestation of the divine.

I appreciate the bounty of this planet.

I am abundant in friendships and community.

I embody abundance by consciously receiving good into my life.

I am open to receive, so that I may share my good fortune with others.

My wealth is the world's wealth.

When I treat myself well, I magnetize the same to me.

I open further to my powers of manifestation.
It is safe for me to create and expand.

It is my birthright to be abundant.

I am free to choose life.

I cultivate prosperity consciousness.

I see a prosperous world, filled with people who love life.

I create my own destiny.

I freely give to others that which I value in life.

I allow my desires to be driven by my values.

I create my intentions according to my values.

I take full responsibility for my own health, wealth and wisdom.

I heal myself with love, so that I can more fully love others.

I am peaceful, so that I can bring peace to the world.

I attune with my higher self.

I am open to initiations into the higher dimensions.

I see beyond the illusions of lack and receive the light.

I work with the ebb and flow of life.

I manage my energy in consciousness.

My energy and my money are showing me how I work with Spirit.

I do energy work to keep my energetic body healthy.

I build wealth from the inside out.

My true wealth comes from within and flows out of me.

I am abundant.

I live in grace and gratitude.

21 Ways of the Peaceful Warrior - Make that 22

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Peaceful Warrior. At first glance, it seems like an oxymoron to nestle the two terms together. There is a great paradox in the notion of fighting for peace, yet as we see the importance and hear the call to make way for peace we do find it possible to hold this juxtaposition of two opposing forces in our mind if we are willing to re-think our position. As we pause and reflect upon both terms, we see that each highlights the need for the counterbalancing of the other.

Courage, trust, belief, self-acceptance, self-esteem,  compassion, forgiveness, non-judgment, non-attachment and an open heart  lead to peace within. Yet we can take little direct action upon these things. Like peace itself, we must foster their emergence. And this is the way of the peaceful warrior. For when the decisive, disciplined part of our psyche can learn to do battle on behalf of that silent, still small voice within, we have truly become the hero of our own life.

Ways of the Peaceful Warrior

1) Breathes consciously
2) Eats consciously
3) Meditates regularly
4) Examines dreams
5) Journals frequently
6) Uses Visualization, visioning and quantum affirmations
7) Rests and sleeps appropriately
8) Identifies, commits and stays focused on important decisions
9) Surrounds with supportive community
10) Asks for help and receives it graciously
11) Makes Self-care a priority
12) Moves the body
13) Participates in soul enriching activities and practices
14) Engages in holistic healing
15) Engages in self discovery and creates personal boundaries
16) Says no, by saying yes to priorities
17) Uses ritual to communicate with unseen aspects of the self - such as  burning bowls for releasing, written intention ceremony, prayers and blessings, candles, incense/sage/holy wood, annointing with oil/balm,  altar  making, yantras/mantras/mandalas
18) Communes with nature and balances personal& environmental elements
19) Practices energy clearing and healing techniques
20) Becomes the Tracker - reads spiritual signs and symbols, uses divination
21) Sends and receives Light Consiously into the body, mind, heart and soul

We take up these practices not just because they physically calm us. But because they also energetically calm the cosmic anxiety of not knowing who and what we truly are…they put us in touch with our true nature. Understanding our true nature permanently anchors peace in our lives. Knowing thyself – doesn’t mean you do everything “right” – knowing thyself means you take into account what you understand about yourself, and the complexities of being human on this path and allows you to  come into acceptance of some of the things you have thought were your worst character defects…thus turning your base metal into precious gold.

I gave this as the Sunday Talk at Church of Spiritual Light on October 2, 2011. As I was reading it over again and preparing to publish it on this blog, I was given a new item for this list. It is one that is so important that I can barely comprehend how it didn't come with the other 21. But I think, this was on purpose so that I could see the message in the pattern. For 22 is the number of mastery...and if this last item had come before it wouldn't have been situated in the number 22 spot and I might have missed just how important this last piece is to the fortification and nurturing of the Peaceful Warrior. Message received! So here it is, perhaps the most important of them all:

22) Have fun! - Do things just for the sheer joy of it to keep the vibration of delight and enjoyment alive in your being.

Source: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 2011

Every Warrior of the Light has felt afraid of going into battle. 
Every Warrior of the Light has, at some time in the past, lied or betrayed someone.
Every Warrior of the Light has trodden a path that was not his.
Every Warrior of the Light has suffered for the most trivial of reasons. 
Every  Warrior of the Light has, at least once, believed he was not a Warrior of the  Light.
Every Warrior of the Light has failed in his spiritual duties.
Every Warrior of the Light has said 'yes' when he wanted to say 'no.'
Every Warrior of the Light has hurt someone he loved.
That is why he is a Warrior of the Light, because he has been through all this  and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is.
~ Paulo Coelho

October 2011: Warrior of Light

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ Kahlil Gibran


What is a Warrior of Light? If I am supposed to be peaceful, why would I want to be a warrior at all? If the Light is so powerful why does it need warriors? What is Light? And how can it help me? These are some of the questions that we will be exploring this month as we delve into this most powerful archetype of the Spiritual Warrior. As we invoke and invite this warrior within into our lives, we advance into a stage of spiritual development that is not for the faint hearted. This warrior within is the one who will give us the strength to face what has been hidden in the recesses of our psyche, and bring to the surface unconscious beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior that are acting out in diverse ways in our lives and causing us to remain unconscious with our choices.


Some of these beliefs are powerfully manifesting in our lives and creating much chaos, confusion, sorrow and loss. At the very worst, they are keeping us from experiencing unconditional love, because these things are often very limiting, restrictive, binding and small. Yet, we are not defenseless against this darkness and sometimes there are even great gifts hidden within these patterns. There are counter-balancing forces which can be invoked in order to clear these from our psyche which cannot be brought forward through the mind alone. And this is why it cannot be done alone.


Einsten said, “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” To this end, we understand that the only way in which we can transform this darkness is to bring it into the Light, to enlighten and shape-shift our beliefs by reframing it and then re-filtering it in the sacred space of a raised consciousness. This allows us to see things in a new way and begin the healing process. Through the power of Grace, if we will allow it to do it's work, we can be moved through these processes in a safe and profound way. The Warrior of Light within our being guards and guides us in this work.

You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew. ~ Albert Einstein

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
October 02 - The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
October 09 - Blinded by the Light
October 16 - Removing Obstacles through Grace
October 23 -  Becoming a Warrior of Light (Sacred Circle Altar)
October 30 - Guest Speaker Rev. David Essel

OCTOBER AFFIRMATIONS

I am a Spiritual Warrior of Light

I invoke the Ways of the Peaceful Warrior

I am conscious of my own darkness.

I reframe my core beliefs about myself and release my suffering to the light.

I stand in my full power and engage that power to help others.

I relentlessly heal and empower my life.

I keep the company of other consciously empowered people.

I align myself with consciously empowered organizations, activities and people.

I am a sacred path teacher and way shower.

I experience compassion for my own journey.

I experience compassion for humanity’s journey.

I am willing to look at areas of myself that I disown by examining my relationships.

I am willing to see myself as I truly am.

I am willing to see the beauty in what I see in myself.

I am willing to see the gifts in my apparent weaknesses.

I claim the power of my gifts, talents and what I am passionate about.

I trust that I have the power to stand tall and to bring something new to the world.

I am willing to fight for the right to be myself.

I trust that the creator gave me these gifts for a reason.

I understand that I am here to change and evolve.

I recognize the light within my own being.

I perform the rituals and self-care that will nurture me and keep me whole.

It is safe because I make it safe.

I trust because I trust in God/Goddess.

If I will expand my aura then I will perceive the higher intelligence of the will of God.

I continue to know myself so that I may bring my will into alignment with the creator.

When the wills are aligned, secrets are revealed, doors unlock and miracles occur.

I am peaceful, because I am filled with peace.

I practice the ways of the Peaceful Warrior.

I shine the light of truth on my life and that of others with compassion and care.

I am gentle with my own soul, spirit and body.

I am gentle with the spirit of all living things.

I feel an overwhelming reverence and respect for all creation.

I am a medium and a channel for the divine.

This world is a magical place. I allow the universe to do it’s magic.

I see the reality of other dimensions and walk the worlds in complete confidence.

I am unafraid to speak the truth.

I see the beauty of each soul’s path.

I am the Light of the World.

September 2011: Enter the Silence

Silence is a fence around wisdom. ~German Proverb

What sweet relief to go into the silence.  There is much peace, wisdom, enlightenment and bliss to be found in the sacred space within, if only we will trust the process of stillness and silence to deliver us to ourselves, our souls and to Great Spirit. Could we truly learn to trust that everything does not run by our thinking mind alone? Can we observe the intelligence at work in the universe and really "know" this for ourselves? Do we have to tell our heart to beat, our hair to grow, the sun to rise or the fish to swim? The answer, of course, no - we do not. There is so much here that runs perfectly well without us ever thinking a conscious thought. And the reason for that is because most of this creation runs according to it's true nature. And this gives us a clue about how to make "entering the silence" a part of our everyday lives. We're not only speaking of meditation, reflection or stillness, but of adapting and creating a way of being that taps into the deep magic of living a life that is centered in the stillness of our soul... and honors our true nature. For when we discover our true nature and become true to that nature, even as we allow ourselves the freedom to explore, expand and grow, we find our place in the grand scheme of creation and this sends out vibrations and ripples of deep contentment, pleasure, peace, fulfillment, love and gratitude to the whole world. And so that is what is returned to us a thousandfold. We find peace by engaging in peaceful practices which allow us to commune with the silent intelligence within. You must listen very closely to hear the whispers of the still small voice within. And if you are patient, all will be revealed.

SEPTEMBER AFFIRMATIONS

I access the deep peace within my soul.
I meditate in silence each day.
I contemplate and reflect upon the beauty of nature.
I drink in the perfection of creation and allow it to fill my cup.
I embrace the way of the peaceful warrior.
I focus my will through the power of attention, awareness, intention and surrender.
I open to a more balanced approach to life.
I create a harmonious and peaceful environment to live in.
I reconcile all the parts of myself and come into acceptance of what is.
I release and relinquish the rigid rules of the mind.
I open my mind and expand my consciousness.
I am humbled by my expanded view of life.
I am grateful for the richness of experience that higher consciousness brings.
I release all need to control outcomes.
I trust in my own process of human spiritual evolution.
I expand my field of awareness.
I listen to the instructions of my soul.
I allow my life to be informed by higher awareness.
I am mindful and present to myself and others.
I sit in blissful silence and sending love to all beings.
I fearlessly face the magnitude of my soul.
I allow the medicine wheel to help me balance, harmonize and integrate all that I am.
I see the essence of "things".
I open to the essential truths of every situation and relationship.
I walk in humility.
I realize the more I know, the less I know.
I remain a student of life, even as I teach.
I open to the unknown and look forward to the joy of discovery.
I allow nature to inform and guide me.
I receive spiritual messages which uplift and inspire me.
I continue to build trust in the unseen aspects of myself and this creation.
I can know the unknowable, see the unseeable and hear the inaudible.
I gather my energy in the stillness of my soul.
I am centered, calm and serene, because this is my eternal nature.
God has entrusted me with myself.

King's Council: Book Club & Discussion Group

Join us for this monthly discussion group and book club. We will be delving into the concepts in the book,
The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Passionate Life, by Piero Ferrucci. All are welcome. Facilitated by Joe Stulb and Tim Albright.

Meets: 2nd Friday of the month
Time: 6:30pm
Cost: $5 (donated to space)
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907

SCHEDULE 2012

August - Introduction
September - Honesty
October - Warmth
November  - Forgiveness
December - Contact
2013
January - Sense of Belonging
February - Trust
March - Mindfulness
April - Empathy
May - Humility
June - Patience
July - Generosity
August - Respect
September - Flexibility
October - Memory
November - Loyalty
December - Gratitude
2014
January - Service
February - Joy
March - Conclusion

BOOKS
The Power of Kindness
http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Kindness-Piero-Ferrucci/dp/1585425192

CoDA: Co-Dependents Anonymous Group

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart... 

Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” -Carl Jung

We are pleased to announce a new CoDA (Co-Dependents Anonymous) Group is now forming. The group is facilitated by Angel Cardenas and hosted at Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr.#1 Fort Myers, Florida 33907.

The intention of this group is to help people to learn about and gain support in forming and maintaining healthy and loving relationships both with self and others. We will be exploring personal boundaries and patterns of behavior that are beneficial to create better relationships, using the 12 Steps as a guideline for recovery.

If you would like to learn more about codependency, click here to review.

Meets Every Wednesday 5:30-7pmSuggested Donation (for the space): $5
Contact: Angel 272-7471
Open Meeting - All are welcome!


Click here to purchase CODA Workbook

Medicine Drum Circle

“The drum is the Great Spirit’s favorite instrument. That is why we were all given a heartbeat.” ~Navajo Elder

Please join us for our monthly Medicine Drum Circle with Tim Albright. The circle is open to all, drummer and non-drummers, musicians and non-musicians, alike. Tim will be helping us connect to the power of drumming by linking the rhythms of the instruments to our heart. Please bring your own drum or instrument, however, we will have several instruments such as rattles, shakers, rainsticks and some drums for those without an instrument to play.

When: Meets the 3rd Friday of the month - 7:30 - 8:30pm
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr., #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
Facilitator: Tim Albright
Cost: $5

Besides being fun and just soul-satisfying, check out some of the therapeutic reasons to make drumming a regular part of your life!

Stress-Reduction 
Strengthened the immune system by increasing Natural Killer (NK) cell activity. (Bittman, Alternative Therapies, 2001) This protocol also reversed multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level, not just reducing but reversing 19 genetic switches that turn on the stress response believed responsible in the development of common diseases. (Bittman, Medical Science Monitor, 2005)

Exercise
Drumming is an accessible exercise which burns calories and improves mood and may reduce the risk of disease. A Norwegian study of 25,000 women age 20-54 that performed leisure time exercises at least 4 hours/week experienced a 37% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. (Thune, Brenn, Lund, Gaard, 1997)

Self-Expression 
Empowers people to move beyond their perceived boundaries.

Camaraderie/Support 
A 1992 Duke University Study linked lengthened lifespan with having a close confidant. HealthRHYTHMS protocol builds camaraderie and support by creating a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing and offering support.

Nurturing 
Creates a level playing field where support of growth and development is encouraged. As equal partners in this process participants often discover inner strength and encouragement by those sharing the experience.

Spirituality 
According to Jan Gregory, Adjunct Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Spirituality at Hartford Seminary, “Hand drumming is an ancient art that has been used in many cultures. The music of drums creates a conduit to the Divine. This is an opportunity to experience worship with our bodies as well as our minds”.

Music-Making 
Systematic inquiry into the relationship between music and brain function is one of the most rapidly developing fields of human research. “Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and their synapses (connections). It would be difficult to find another activity that engages so many of the brain’s systems.”(Weinberger, N., 1998)

August 2011: Art for Life

"Everything you can imagine is real."  — Pablo Picasso

We reveal ourselves to ourselves and to the world by what we create. Come and join us this month to experience the divine within your creations. We're talking about everything you experience, design, or make, everything you do...as art. Your entire life can be a sacrament, a prayer and a devotion to the magnificence of being human and having this experience to becoming even more fully human. We're so busy trying to become holy, that we miss the mark and don't realize the full potential of being human and all that it entails. Certainly we seek to purify ourselves, but that does not mean that we live a dry, dull life, toeing some imaginary line that our distorted psyche holds us to. What we are exploring this month is the inner doorways to absolute abundance of Spirit within which leads us to our highest creative ideas and gives us the inspiration to create our lives from the next level of existence. Higher consciousness brings new ways of seeing the world...and this is an exciting vision to have. It infuses and inspires everything in an unexpected and often magically endearing way. For in that space, a common tea kettle is a miracle, a motorcycle is a dragon, a car is a golden carriage and human beings are works of art!

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe

August 7 - Guest Speaker - Rev. David Essel
August 14 - Creation & Inspiration
August 21 - The Muse is Loose
August 28 - Art for Life

AUGUST AFFIRMATIONS

Everyday I create something beautiful.

I am a co-creator with the divine.

My powers of creation are ever evolving.

I create with confidence and courage.

I stretch myself by trying new things.

I embrace failure as proof that I am creating.

I consider the hidden intention of my “errors”.

My “mistakes” are lessons to learn from.

I give myself the leeway to make mistakes.

I love life and life loves me.

I take inspiration from nature.

I allow myself time to daydream regularly.

When I am still, I am also creating.

There is much to be expressed from within me.

I look forward to what is revealed through my creativity.

I help others to be creative.

I allow my unconscious to be expressed in my art.

I trust my own creative process.

It is possible to make money from my art.

I bring color and my use of it into my awareness.

I use color to change and command my energy.

I am human, a multi-colored being of light.

I give myself permission to be creative.

I am creative in all my endeavors.

I let my imagination soar.

My life is a masterpiece.

I am a work of art.
Life is my art.

The 10 Commitments (that lead to freedom)

The 10 Commitments (that lead to freedom)

I recognize and honor the indwelling spirit of the divine presence within myself and all creation.

You shall have no other gods before me.

I will remain vigilant over anything that subverts my free will, be it mental or physical, and continually seek wholeness.

You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
 

I will take excellent care of myself as befitting the divine presence that lives within me.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
 

I will keep my promises. I will honor the 7^th day as an agreement that I made with the Universe as a whole to go into the stillpoint of God and reaffirm the spirit of creation.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
 

I will balance and harmonize the divine masculine and feminine principles in all aspects of my life.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
 

I will cherish, guard and protect my life and all life.

You shall not murder.
 

I will be faithful and trustworthy in all my relations.

You shall not commit adultery.

I will embrace prosperity consciousness so that I may give generously.

You shall not steal.
 

I will tell the truth to myself and others and enable others to do the same.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
 

I will be joyful and grateful for the success of others, for when I intend good things for others, two or more are gathered and I bring  the vibration of abundance to us all.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

Source: Rev. Renee Bledsoe 

July 2011: Free To Be

           " You have freedom when you're easy in your harness." ~Robert Frost

In our country the Fourth of July marks a very special milestone in human history: a collective acknowledgment in a new world for liberation from tyranny, injustice, slavery and anything that bars our pathway to life, lliberty and the pursuit of happiness.


Does anyone ever notice that our founding fathers put the pursuit of happiness right up there with life and limb? But how many of us truly honor and guard our pursuit to happiness as much as we do our very lives? Don't we tend to suffer as long as we can tolerate the suffering? Which for many of us is very long. Don't we say someday I'll be happy when... Don't we underestimate our need for deep soul satisfaction as being something that would be nice, but not necessary for our survival?


I daresay our ancestors had gave us alot more than a free country when they signed those documents. They gave us the true formula to properly prioritize the care and feeding of the human spirit. Isn't it fascinating that this powerful message comes forth in what is considered a political, secular document? In one of the greatest revelations of the power of the people the Declaration of Independence is possibly one of the most sacred documents in existence for our time, if you consider that God can speak through humankind.

We must be committed to our freedom. Freedom isn't free and we must be willing to pay the price, to fight if need be not only for our right to do as we please, but to be who we really are. We must fight our own inner demons and that of our ancestral karma to be free of old patterns and programming, while enjoying the gifts we've been given to create ourselves by the power of the divine will that resides within each of us. This is our path to freedom, right through the center of our heart. Most of all we simply want to be free to love, to be love, to flow love and to receive love. This is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves and to each other.

"Most people want security in this world, not liberty." ~H.L. Mencken

"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." ~William Faulkner

"Freedom is the will to be responsible to ourselves." ~Nietzsche

Free to Be 

I am committed to the freedom of my spirit.

I allow my soul to soar.

I practice freedom in my life.

I allow others the freedom to be who they are.

I am free to love.

I am free to just be myself. I am free to discover who I am.

I am free to make new choices.

I give myself permission to express myself in different ways.

I am a growing, evolving spiritual being.

I have the higher vision of eagle within my being.

I am free to explore the possibilities of life.

My will to live is ignited and my love is the flame.

There is so much to live for and I am grateful for my life.

I am the intention of my ancestors, but I am ultimately made in the image of the creator.

I remember who I am. I remember all that I have been.

I activate stellar consciousness and witness the birth of this universe and all that is.

I am a Shining Star.

I am gifted and talented at____________________________________________.

I love to____________________________________________________________________.

Others think I am good at ___________________________________________________________.

My journey has been long, but I have never been alone.

I feel the supportive power of my people.

I experience God through my people and my family and community.

I call upon Archangel Michael, the mighty Eagle, to clear me of the imprints of the past.

I clear and purify myself and reset the future.

With great excitement and gratitude I step into my destiny.

I am free to choose life.

June 2011: Believe & Receive

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

The energies that are sweeping through the world at this time are nothing short of spectacular. Never before in the history of the world have we had the ability and the opportunity to make so much progress in our human development. Some see the glass half empty, while others see the glass half full. So which is it? Do you see an exit sign and stop yourself at the thought, "that's the way out?"...or do you remember to see beyond the beyond...and say, "yes, that is the way out, but it is also the way in... to something new!"

It takes a great deal of self-discipline to re-train ourselves out of our negativity. This month we're going to be exploring the gifts that we can give ourselves to do just that. The big surprise is that we can't really "talk" ourselves out of a mindset. Sometimes that works, but that gets old. So why not open that door and step into the next realm of your own being? The summertime says it's time to play, relax, be at peace, dream and re-charge our batteries.

It's time to mend our body and tend our spirit with some downtime. But I can assure you, that even when your body is at rest, your soul only has more of a chance to catch up with you and become a bigger influence in your life. So the good news is that taking that quiet time, injecting joy into your life and visioning for your future is never a more active time...behind the scenes, that is. The magic is happening while you are sleeping, meditating, sitting on the beach or creating a cool work of art. If you don't believe it, try it and see if after you take that time for yourself if you aren't twice as productive and ten times as inspired! Believe and Receive the beauty of your soul.

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."  ~Vincent Van Gogh

"We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm." ~ Winston Churchill

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
June 05 - Rest in Your Belief
June 12 - Breathing, Dreaming & Miracle Making
June 19 - The Art of Creative Relaxation
June 26 - Your Invisible Crown

JUNE AFFIRMATIONS
I believe in myself.
I believe in the beauty of my dreams.
My dreams are important to me in ways beyond my imagining.
I allow myself time to rest and restore.
I schedule fun and play into my life every day.
When I smile, the whole world is alight with my love.
When I laugh, the angels are celebrating.
The care and feeding of my spirit is just as important as the care I give my body.
The soul communicates in symbols and imagery, so I give myself time to visualize, meditate and create.
I am a creative genius.
My inner artist is shining through my whole life.
When I am peaceful and tranquil, I am open to more inspiration.
I am inspired by the Light.
Each morning I lie quietly before arising and allow my higher self to speak to me.
I receive high inspiration from the quiet of my soul.
My soul speaks in silence.
I am a master of the art of doing without doing.
I treat myself as royalty and everyday I wear an invisible crown.
When I am happy, I give off the vibration of happiness and everyone and everything I come in contact with benefits.
I receive good things into my life.
I accept my highest good into my life in the manner in which it should unfold.
I rest in the belief that the Universe is supporting my purpose.
I acknowledge any apparent misfortune, but I see only good.
I experience my feelings clearly without attaching emotional baggage from the past.
I give myself permission to feel.
I give myself permission to rest.
I give myself permission to love.
I give myself permission to live life with passion and grace.
I am filled with the endless blessings of the creator.
I find creative ways to relax my body and mind.
I breathe my cares away and restore myself with the breath of life.
I am a miracle maker!

Redirecting Children's Behavior

 REDIRECTING CHILDRENS BEHAVIOR

 Presented by

 The International Network for Children and Families

Calling all Parent, Life Coaches, Teachers and anyone who works with children and youth...

This amazing course teaches you to “Empower Your Children to Self Discipline, Self Reliance and Self confidence”!!

*END POWER STRUGGLES

*ELIMINATE SIBLING RIVALRY

*TEACH SELF MOTIVATION

*FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CHILDS EMOTIONAL NEEDS

*INCREASE JOY AND LAUGHTER IN YOUR HOME

5 consecutive  Thursdays

Beginning June 7th, 2011 From 6:30pm to 9:30pm

Held at: The Church Of Spiritual Light

1939 Park Meadows DR .  Ft.Myer  FL

Cost Single: $95

Couple: $150
+ $20 book fee (each)

*Deposit required to cover the cost of books. For more details, and to lock in special pricing please contact the instructor of this course, Elizabeth Vallie at 239-691-1399 

Visit the website at www.incaf.com 

Wellness & Nutrition Seminar Series

"The part can never be well unless the whole is well."  ~Plato

Join Lora Ulrich of The New You Health and Wealth Lifestyle Coaching and Diana Grant of Vitality Health Coaching to learn about a revolutionary and clinically proven wellness program that can help you look and feel your best, and address energy levels, immune health, fitness, metabolism, cravings, and more to be at your best for the summer!

Nutrition Seminar   

Offered every third Thursday of the month at 1939 Park Meadow Drive, Suite 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907.  

This information-packed seminar shows you the rules for getting Healthy for Life!  The seminar explains:  why diets don’t work, how eating the correct foods will have you feeling great with more energy, the importance of maintaining a stable blood sugar level, the Glycemic Index of foods, the importance of exercise and finally the importance of following a good supplementation program.

Health and Wellness Spa Seminar   

Offered the first Thursday of each month at 1939 Park Meadow Drove, suite 1, Fort Myers, FL 33907.  

The Health and Wellness seminar is the Nutrition seminar with a fun, yet informative section about skin-care added to the presentation.

Other Upcoming Seminars...

5-Week RESET Weight Loss Challenge  

This program will be offered via phone or at any location that would like to host the event.Change does not have to be complicated. USANA scientists designed this 5-Day 

RESET Weight Loss program to make losing weight feel easy, giving you a significant head start to long term weight management. By following the RESET program, you can lose up to five pounds in five days. RESET has been clinically tested, and its low-glycemic foundation is scientifically based. Rethink dieting. Resolve, renew, reinvent with RESET.

Then, depending on the amount of weight you wish to release you will move on to either Phase I or Phase II, depending on your specific goals. Once you have achieved your ideal weight, you will continue with Phase II, consisting of one USANA Nutrimeal™ smoothie and one USANA Nutrition Bar each day along with the USANA Essentials™ multivitamin and BiOmega™ fish oil supplements. You will be counseled and monitored for 5 weeks while you are learning to pick healthier foods and start in incorporate exercise into your daily lifestyle.

Self Care Seminar  
This seminar will be offered periodically as part of the lecture series.  

The Self-Care seminar explores the 10 Areas of Self-Care that can greatly impact your health, happiness, personal and work relationships, and the purpose of your life.  Each of the 10 areas are discussed and suggestions given on how to easily incorporate healthier practices into your busy live.  You will work on creating your ideal week and envision how that ideal week would look and feel.  You will leave the seminar with a plan to reduce stress and take better care of yourself.

How to Get a Healthy Home Seminar   

This seminar will be offered periodically as part of the lecture series.  

This seminar is a short summary of the New York Times Best-seller, The Healthy Home.  We follow the book as the author goes from room to room in a typical American family’s home and points out all of the toxins that are in the home and gives you suggestions for how to lessen the impact these toxins have on yours family’s health.  This is an eye-opening seminar that you do not want to miss.

Public Welcome. For more information you may contact Diana Grant at 239-851-1846
Cost for monthly Thursday evening seminars: $5