Wednesday, June 29, 2016

JULY 2016: RELEASE OF SUFFERING


“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” 
― Amy Carmichael

A Bodhisattva is a being who has endured the path of suffering, has processed their karma and is in full realization of their darma. That is to say, now they are free to do their life's work which entails "going back" and helping others to attain that same freedom. They have transcended the need for death and rebirth because they have come to know themselves and consequently others so well, that there is nothing left to "die" to. In other words, they have come full circle within themselves. The illusion of physical reality has been put in its place and the power of the Higher Self has been fully integrated into the body. For the Bodhisattva, what is occurring on the physical level is very real, but it is not the end of the story.

The Bodhisattva knows that everything is energy, the power of the mind and the purpose of suffering.
Therefore the Bodhisattva's master purpose is to relieve the "needless" suffering of the world. This is done by becoming the embodiment or the "antidote" to a certain type of suffering, which arises as a result of the sufferer being locked into the mindset that physical reality is all there is. The Bodhisattva is well aware of and can work with non-local reality to hold the space for the suffering to move forward. The further along the Bodhisattva gets in grounding their energies into the physical, the more people they can assist to heal.

Opening to the experience of Bodhisattva is a very personal and powerful one on the path to healing, empowerment and enlightenment. You may think it is just for some. But let me assure you that this archetype is dead center on the path to freedom. So I'd like to show some practical ways to encourage and activate the energies of the Bodhisattva into your life.

My healing modality utilizes the power of archetypal energies, Light, color and visualization. One exercise to bring in the power of the Bodhisattva and to further develop and integrate those characteristics into our life is balancing, integrating, and interweaving the energies located at the Sacral Chakra. The sacral chakra holds in it's structure the gateway for us to express our creativity, passion and sexuality by activating our life force in readiness for manifestation. This is more or less where the Kundalini energy coalesces before it takes physical form, as is outpictured by the womb of a woman being the container for the growing human embryo.

There are two master archetypes that are working with us to teach us lessons and in layman's terms "running programs" within our psyche and energy body in the sacral chakra. They are the Martyr and the Emperor/Empress (or another name might be the Hedonist). These two powerful forces are neither good, nor bad in their own right. They just are. And yet, certainly one or the other can take dominance and help us spin our life out of control. The key lies in integrating these energies together. It might seem like an impossible task, considering how they seem to be polar opposites. It is important to understand that what will be created out of the merging of these energies within us, is yet a third thing: The Bodhisattva.

Imagine a venn diagram and you can see how this occurs. (A venn diagram is two circles which are drawn partially overlapping that creates a vertical eye shape where the two circles overlap.) This is exactly how these energies work together. Where we want to stay is in the space of that eye, where the two meet. This is where the Bodhisattva energies become active in our life. Sometimes we are moving into that space without consciousness. The purpose of this teaching is to help you move and stay in that space more often, ultimately operating your entire life from that middle path with full consciousness, focus and will.

The Bodhisattva has been there and done that....you can't play a player. It is very difficult to pull the wool over the eyes of someone who has admitted to the worst in their own self and has faced and continues to face their own fears and darkness. The Bodhisattva holds a great deal of light for this very reason; they are always shining the light of truth upon themselves. This release of their own suffering is what has made room in their aura and in their soul to hold these powerful energies. And it is in this way that they work with the archetype of martyr or the wounded healer. Yet, the wounded healer can be very dysfunctional all on their own. The wounded healer can help a great many people heal, but it is often at a great price and that is that this occurs sometimes through coyote medicine and they themselves are keeping their own woundedness in the dark by covering it with helping others.

The opposing force to the martyr is the emperor/empress or hedonist. The hedonist loves life, enjoys pleasure and makes sure that they are well taken care of, especially on the physical level. As you can imagine, the hedonist is a prime candidate for acting out addictions and aggression, while the martyr is the one who represses and "acts in", meaning most of their transgressions are committed against themselves.

Hopefully you can see how these two archetype could benefit by joining forces. The bottom line is that the martyr, who is willing to die for their cause needs to be balanced by the hedonist, who is willing to live for their cause. It is difficult to give what you do not have or know that you have. Therefore it is imperative in the development of the Bodhisattva that they begin to receive in order to share. This is where the power of the hedonist, put in check by the martyr can allow this new creature to emerge within: The Bodhisattva.

This is the middle way, the middle path and is a vital component to becoming a healthy altruist. These archetypes are very, very powerful. Working with an archetype is like downloading a program that bypasses sensory input. This is working energetically and on a soul level. Even if you don't understand, your soul or your psyche will.

A powerful method to integrate these energies is to do chakra balancing and healing work, concentrating especially at the sacral, root and solar plexis. Envision the color red at your feet up to your groin, now see the color yellow at your navel, allow these two color to merge at the womb area (below the navel) and see the color orange emerge. On your left side envision the martyr - even call to mind someone in real life or from history that you associate with this, and on your right side envision an emperor or empress. See each character in all their regalia. Allow these energies to permeate your mind. Now see them coming together in your womb area, and inside that color orange see them coming together and becoming one being. This is your Bodhisattva. Take this being and allow it to become as large as your physical body. See yourself heart to heart, face to face. Step into this being and allow yourself to feel the immense, wisdom, devotion, compassion and divine love as you mingle your energies.

You have now drawn the divine matrix for the Bodhisattva to emerge in your life. This will open the gates of glory in your life. The irony is that the word glory will take on a whole new meaning. The glory will be for the great work. The glory will be that you understand that you belong to the world and the world belongs to you. There is no separation and so there is no sacrifice. The giving and the receiving are inextricably combined. Abundance will flow and you will create or become a part of a powerful legacy. When the Bodhisattva, this royalty shows up in your life, you will be at a place where your loss of innocence, all you have been through will be coming full circle and your life force will be activated in a way that you can't possibly now imagine. The beauty of it all will be revealed and you will see the undeviating justice at work in the world as you fully claim your personal power for the highest good of us all.

May you walk in beauty. May you walk in peace. May you be overflowing with love and compassion as you create, integrate and embody your art, your work, your masterpiece in this world. They key is to feel like an empress and think like a martyr and you will be guided onto the middle path every time. This is the becoming of the Bodhisattva.

by: Rev. Renee Bledsoe

Sunday Talks
July 03 - Church in Circle: Release of Suffering Ceremony (Ho 'Oponopono)
July 10 - Healing with Archetypes
July 17 - Manifestation & Creativity
July 24 - Making Space: Surrendering to God's Love
July 31 - Letting in the Light

July Affirmations

I allow myself to feel without self-judgment or condemnation.
My life gives me experiences that guide both my inner and outer choices.
As I accept more freedom of choice, I accept responsibility for those choices.
I allow my soul's purpose to lead me to the light
I trust in my owndivinity.
I trust in the divinity of this creation.
I allow higher powers into my life by calling to them.
As I pray and meditate every day, I connect with my Higher Self.
I reflect and contemplate the reality of my Higher Self.
As I connect with my Higher Self, I notice miracles occurring around me.
I say the Ho'Oponopono prayer to help and heal the world.
I love you. I'm sorry, Please forgive me. Thank you.
The suffering of one, is the suffering of all.
I release the need for suffering in my life.
I understand the undeviating justice in my life.
Even as I allow my life to flow, I am guided to take right action.
I am proactive because I am intuitive and empathic.
I take my sensitivity seriously and safeguard myself.
I see how I already have what I need, and need only open my eyes to it.
I see doors and windows where there had only been walls.
I protect my peace by being prepared.
I am open to the unexpected and able to gracefully flow around any obstacles.
I allow others to support and assist me.
I ask for help when I need it, and I need it more than I think I do.
I see my life as a collaborative creation.
I am enough and what I do is enough.
I trust that my gifts, no matter how grand or small help and heal the world.
My love is a gift to the world.
I love myself and do my best to relieve my own suffering.
I speak kindly to myself no matter what.
I am compassionate with myself and others.
I am free of suffering.
May all beings be free from suffering.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

JUNE 2016: LEAD WITH YOUR HEART


Lead With Your Heart
“Men are governed only by serving them; this rule is without exception." - V. Cousin

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
June 05 - Leading With Your Heart: Being in Service
June 12 - Healing the Heart
June 19 - Church in Circle: Sunner Solstice's & Father's Day Celebration
June 26 - The Art & Craft of Receiving Love

JUNE AFFIRMATIONS
I  believe in the power of love.
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.
I give myself time to visualize, meditate and create.
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 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 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 leading with my heart.
I walk the path of love.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

MAY 2016: Humanity As the New Messiah

MAY 2016
Humanity As the New Messiah
“Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool.” ― Ralph Wald

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
May 01 - Humanity As the New Messiah
May 08 - Church in Circle: Mother's Day Celebration
May 15 - Know Thyself and You Will Know the Universe
May 22 - Festival of Humanity: Sacred Feminine, Divine Masculine
May 29 - Divine Identity

MAY AFFIRMATIONS
I am guided moment by moment through the power of love.
I am moved by the beauty of the soul's expression.
I am guided moment by moment through the power of love.
The perfection of Mother Father God moves through me, guiding and protecting.
I recognize the power of the divine feminine within me.
I see the hidden beauty of the Goddess at work in the world.
The Divine Feminine is love and is the container for love.
I embrace my destiny and create my life in joy.
I see all through the eyes of my Higher Self.
I embrace the desire to receive in order to share.
My wealth is the world's wealth.
My empowerment is key to someone else's success.
I experience the divine in all things.
There is no separation of human and divine.
I remain eternally connected to source energy.
I go to the source for renewal and restoration.
I consciously bring Light into my being.
I meditate and energize my cells with the Light.
I magnetize the highest good into my life.
It is time to release myself from the karmic path of suffering.
I acknowledge the burdens of my ancestors and heal the past, present and future.
I surrender to my soul and to my higher self.
I clear the path for the complete realization of the perfection of my soul.
I have compassion and deep respect for myself and others.
I am filled with grace and gratitude for all creation.
God's love is overflowing within me.
Humanity as a whole is the new Messiah.
I am, because we are.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Kai Chi Do Circle


Kai Chi Do, which translates to "Free Spirit Way", is a metaphysical workout that will inspire and energize you. It incorporates martial arts, aerobic yoga, and meditation in motion. First we move through The Depths, which utilizes Qigong postures to remove energetic blockages. Then we move through the 5 Elements connecting deeply to Source, Self, and Others. Kai Chi Do is done in circle to enhance connections and all movement can be modified. Just like the ancient martial arts, Kai Chi Do is also a living philosophy that can inform and enlighten your daily life. Every Kai Chi Do circle is offered up to end the suffering of all beings.

Instructor: Elizabeth Goodman
When: 1st & 3rd Tuesday's of the month
Time: 7- 8:30pm
Class fee: $15
Location: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907

Dress comfortably.

To benefit the People Shine Project
SW Florida Alliance of Holistic Self-Care




Friday, April 1, 2016

APRIL 2016 True Community: From Divergence to Allegiance


“Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems rather from love and devotion towards men and towards objective things.”  - Albert Einstein

True community demands that each of the individuals become their most authentic self. This might require them to be a bit divergent for a time. It will most certainly ask them to heal, forgive and evolve. But when the time comes, a threshold will present itself that asks the individual if they will use their power for the greater good of us all, or only for the self. This is an inner attitude, for the actions may look the same. Therefore True Community can only be achieved through the rigorous self-initiations of inner honesty and integrity through group work, which provides the context and the content for a higher order of spiritual partnership and relationship. Allegience, to be healthy must be earned. It is from this place that a higher order of living is born. it is from this place that masters work together in mastery of love.

The day is here and now that I can die to a cause and remain alive in the cosmic fire of it's brighter light. Allowing it to burn away all that I am not. As I am continuing to die the little deaths, the little ego deaths to stay in the ring and rise triumphant into my immortal nature, not through martyrdom, but because I remain simply and forever embraced in a higher love, not for myself, but for us all. ― Rev. Renee Bledsoe

"Without devotion, action and knowledge are cold and dry and may even become shackles." - Mahatma Gandhi

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
April 03 - True Community: From Divergence to Allegiance
April 10 - A Call to Higher Love 
April 17 - Church in Circle - New Earth Day
April 24 - Merging Local & Global Consciousness

Affirmations
I am free to be myself.

I have the courage and strength to claim my free will.
I align my will with the will of my higher self.
I submit to the initiations of my soul.
I magnetize my soul group to realize the highest levels of the mastery of love.
I am accountable to my soul.

I let go of what is no longer serving my soul's journey.
I practice freedom, by tending to my soul.
I tap into the river of my destiny.
I chose this life and I honor that choice.
My body is a vehicle for freedom and the actualization of my dreams.
I honor and respect the needs of my body.
My boundaries and clear communication create a safe space.
I am a force for good to be reckoned with.
I am a part of the eternal will to good.
The will of my mind, my body, and my soul are one with the will of God.
I am free to express from the deepest parts of my being.
I am free to fulfill my destiny.
I chose my destiny before I was born and have everything I need to activate my divine mission.
I free the dragon within and tame it's spirit to serve my higher calling.
I allow the phoenix within me to rise up out of the ashes.
I step into my highest calling.
I remember who and what I am.
I embrace right livelihood.
I am free to love to the depths and heights my soul can reach.

I am allegiant to the higher cause of love.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

MARCH 2016: Of Magic & Miracles


MARCH 2016: Of Magic & Miracles
“One need not worry or fret about any secret magic to begin to unlock her inner soul. It will respond to the one who seeks it.” ― Rumi

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
March 06 - Bringing Back the Magic
March 13 - How to Make Miracles
March 20 - Church in Circle - Spring Equinox Blessing
March 27 - Easter Sunday Celebration with Rev. Jacqueline Weiks


MARCH AFFIRMATIONS
I open to the language of my soul.
I am filled with the Light of the creator.
I resource myself with breath and light.
I take care of my body as an extension of my soul.
I use the mirror of my relationships to discover and heal my soul.
I clear and heal myself so that I can stand before others and mirror wholeness.
My wholeness is my perfection.
When I totally accept myself in the moment, I am whole.
Wholeness leads to wellness.
I heal myself and this world through my perfect love.
Love is patient.
I am devoted to the Light.
I am devoted to my soul.
I express my soul's desires.
What I seek is seeking me.
I am a mirror for the Light.
I become transparent to negativity and suffering.
I see the world through the eyes of compassion.
I am a witness to my own wholeness.
All is perfect in this moment.
I am guided moment by moment along the path of liberation.
I am free to choose love.
I raise my vibration with music and positive affirmations.
I live in the magic.
I am a miracle of life.

Shamanic Journey Night


Join us for our monthly Shamanic Journey Night. On the First Friday of each month we will be providing the sacred space for Journey Work, further exploration and journeying, through active imagination and meditation, as well as signs and symbology, and the cosmology or map of the Spirit World.

We use the usual drumming techniques in sacred space to assist anyone to travel on the inner planes. You may journey to solve problems, discover information about healing, receive messages from loved ones (even living), connect more with your own soul and spirit, communicate spiritually with anyone, and for creative inspiration. At the end of the journey we will share our experiences and help you decode the signs and symbols you may have received.

Cost: $15
Every 1st Friday of the month
JourneyMaster: Rev. Renee Bledsoe
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The shamanic journey occurs by shifting awareness or consciousness in order to allow part of your soul to travel independent of the body. As you can imagine, for the soul to take flight under the right circumstances (while you are alive) can be a powerful time of freedom for the soul, and is honoring of this greater aspect of your Self that longs to be free to express! You could say that the realization of your ability to journey is what sleep and even death is awakening us to. How powerful to dream while you're awake!