Springtime Inspiration - What's On Your Seed Packet?

I hope everyone is enjoying the springtime now that April showers have brought the bright blooms of daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms

I wanted to share a few upcoming events and musings to help you get excited for the energy of spring.

First, join our next virtual workshop on Wednesday, April 24th, 6pm-7:30pm Eastern Time for Purpose Lab: Leveraging Intuition & Manifestation in Your Life & Career. Whether you’re new to intuition or manifestation, or have used it before, you can learn practical steps you can apply immediately to create your new job, career, or perspective shifts. Learn more and register here. Use “ILOVEPURPOSE24” for $10 off as a thank you for following my blog!

Now, on to today’s musing and takeaway:

What’s in Your Seed Packet?

If you love gardening, then you already appreciate the joy of putting in the work to cultivate nutrient-rich soil, planting seeds, watering and waiting, and then seeing the fruits of your labor/love as the seedlings grow.

Being mindful of this process can be helpful when you think about making improvements in your life or career, especially if you’re looking to try something new.

You know how the seed packets have important information in them, like how much sunlight the plant needs, the gardening zone it would thrive in, how much water it requires, how far apart to plant the seeds, and other key topics?

These all help us to figure out where to plant the seeds in the garden, how we take care of them, and how we create the ideal conditions or environment for them to grow.

I see the same thing for how we approach our goals related to career or life.

Let’s say you’re interested in finding a new job. There is a lot of cultivation required before you can leave and land a job offer.

It requires first asking yourself — what is it that YOU need to thrive? What information would be written on your seed packet?

What kind of work or job functions do you love? Do you love mission-oriented work or working with numbers? Do you need praise and credit to be given freely and authentically by your supervisor or colleagues? Do you like an atmosphere that is serious or playful?

How much do you want to grow? Do you want a job that allows for you to grow as tall as possible, where you’re not tied to a job description but can expand and grow to gain new skills?

These types of questions will help you to figure out your must-haves so that you start with intentionally creating the ideal conditions for yourself.

For example, I had a job once where office party life revolved around drinks and happy hours.

I personally don’t drink alcohol because of medical reasons and I frankly never acquired the taste for it, but over time, it became a bit uncomfortable for me to always decline drinks, or have to explain this to people. For my next job, I wanted an environment where people could relax and converse with people without alcohol.

I became clear on the kind of culture I wanted and it became part of my manifestation. No matter how you view it - as co-creating with the Universe, or as praying to God for what you desire, my intentions led to the actualization of this in my next job.

My colleagues and I had fun talking with one another, eating at restaurants, exploring new neighborhoods, and bonding over arts and music.

There was a deeper level of connection with people that I found necessary in my job environment. This was what I needed on my seed packet to thrive (among many other things).

If you’re interested in how to create this for yourself, then join us at this workshop on Wed, April 24th! If you can’t attend live, I will share the recording with you and you can still receive an intuitive reading afterward.

If you have friends or colleagues who are experiencing any challenges in their career or life, please share this workshop with them! It may give them the tools or perspective to make lasting shifts.

What do you need on your seed packet? Share in the comments below!

My tribute to Ralph: What I learned from my beloved dog

[Trigger alert: detailed information about death, dying, emotions, grief]

Ralph was my first dog ever. I’ve had many different types of pets growing up as a kid (somehow my mom allowed us to have hamsters, goldfish, a parakeet, a chicken, and a rabbit… not all at the same time!), so I distinctly remember the feeling of really, REALLY wanting a dog when I had my own apartment with my husband, Rob.

It was 2012 and I had just graduated from MIT with a Master’s degree in urban planning. I had never felt this urge before to get a dog. I watched YouTube videos of dogs, looked up different dog breeds that I liked, and obsessed over having one.

I came across Badass Rescue, based in Brooklyn. They rescued dogs from high kill-shelters in the South of the U.S. and brought them up to be fostered and adopted by people in NYC. I followed their story and felt for the dogs that were rescued, and the dogs that were not.

We had put in an application for another dog that looked like a corgi mix since we had an apartment, and we preferred a smaller dog. Another family had already adopted him, and not long afterwards, we got word that our application for Ralph (he was called Ralph Fiennes by the rescue, after the actor who played Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series; not knowing his name was pronounced “Rafe", we called him Ralph and it stuck).

In fact, I felt like I had manifested him. I had already been well-versed in the Law of Attraction and how our thoughts and feelings create our reality. I really wanted a dog that was relatively independent and didn’t slobber, like a cat — friendly, but not the kind to jump on people to lick their face, independent, and capable of just sitting next to you. The perfect dog for an introvert like me. :)

I also met some dogs during my travels to Hong Kong and Japan, and the ones that imprinted themselves in my memory had this beautiful red, brown color and the softest fur. They stood next to me or were content to get belly rubs for hours. I kept these dogs in my heart as I asked for the perfect dog for us.

When we brought Ralph home, I sat holding him in the passenger seat of the car. He was shivering the whole time, obviously nervous and scared with what was happening. He came from rural North Carolina and was around 1.5 years ago. He had a kink in his tail, like someone had stepped on his tail when he was young, and later, it turned out he hated bikes, so we always thought his tail got run over by a bicycle.

His papers said he was a feist, which meant he loved hunting, but we thought he was a corgi, beagle, Jack Russell terrier mix because we could see each of those breeds in his face, elongated body, and intelligence. He had a mischievous streak and had bundles of energy.

We got him at the height of spring. We lived in Queens at the time, and he would lie in beds of cherry blossoms during our walks, rolling around his back and grunting in pleasure. He loved exploring and meeting other dogs. The first time we brought him to a dog park, he zoomed around and around, and was easily the fastest and most nimble dog there. We felt so proud as dog parents, like his aptitude somehow came from our own genes. A little girl even commented on his unique appearance, asking her mom why we brought a fox into the dog park.

I trained him to do all sorts of tricks, including shaking our hands with his paws, waiting until our command to get a treat that we placed on his paw, sit, lie down, and stand up. He also loved running off-leash in the dog park or in the woods when no one else was around. He would point when he saw squirrels and could never really be trusted off-leash, but he learned to (sometimes) listen to “edge” when he reached a boundary and we wanted him to run back to us.

My favorite times were when I walked him for hours on the weekends, meandering through Forest Hills Gardens, one of my favorite neighborhoods filled with beautiful architectural homes and 100-year-old trees. We used to joke that he got to poop on the most expensive grass in the city and had the most glorious dog walks in every season of the year.

We got him when I was exploring my spirituality, after my big spontaneous awakening experience in 2010. His friendly nature meant that we met every other dog owner and he was like the dog mayor of the neighborhood. Everyone knew Ralph. Even dogs that usually didn’t get along with male dogs were surprisingly very friendly with him.

One Halloween night, when the veil between worlds was thin, we walked in an area that had a lot of spiritual energy. We both stopped and I saw tall beings walking by with my actual vision, outside of my mind’s eye, which is a rare occurrence. Ralph was also on alert, standing in front of me and pointing at them with his stance. When they walked by, he relaxed, and I relaxed as well. Ralph could definitely see things and notice things in the other realms.

At another point, I was walking Ralph and the robins (which were involved in my spiritual awakening experiences) flocked around us. Some robins would walk right in front of me, fluttering their wings. Birds were my spirit animals and they would either send me messages or fly super close to me, causing tingles of electric energy up my body and crown chakra.

When I was pregnant with my first child and had recently started my company, Being My Purpose, I got to walk Ralph every day for hours as well, letting me think and admire the beauty of the trees, flowers, and homes. Our goal was to get a backyard one day so that he could run off-leash all the time. In the meantime, Ralph taught me that no matter the weather, I could go outside.. from torrential rains and hurricanes, to more than a foot of snow (which he loved jumping through), and freezing cold temperatures with sleet and hail. He loved rolling around in grass, sunning himself like a cat, and rummaging through piles of crunchy, fall leaves.

When I was juggling a baby and walking Ralph, I saw our mandatory walks outside as a way to gain independence and freedom. I was overwhelmed and sleep-deprived with caring for a baby in the first year, and Ralph would sit next to me when I was up at odd hours. When I sat at the piano to sing, especially when I sang sad ballads by Sara Bareilles, he would sit next to my legs, a furry companion, steadfast and unmoving like a rock, as if comforting me through the emotions.

We didn’t get a backyard until after the pandemic and we stayed in houses in the Hudson Valley area that had backyards. By this time, we had two kids and he was getting older. His face was turning grey and he slept for many hours during the day, but he loved sitting in the sun outside and zooming.

Admittedly, after having two children and working from home, I didn’t spend as much time walking or petting Ralph (our first-born son, as we’d call him) as I used to. I’m thankful my husband and kids got to walk him, but I kept thinking that I wanted to take him on a long, meandering walk somewhere new and not just walk him briefly outside to do his business or hang out in the backyard, but life happened, and I never did.

In the last few months of his life, his body started failing. He would bounce back from getting sick every time, so I wasn’t expecting him to go that quickly. Over Christmas and New Year’s break, our plans suddenly changed so that we stayed at home instead of traveling. My readings for myself also asked that I plant bulbs in the backyard for springtime, and that the deadline to do so was by the end of that week.

I finally decided to do a family walk and bring him to the playground with the kids. He had a lot of energy the night before, but could barely walk now. Rob carried him to the playground, and Ralph sat on the grass and sunned himself. After a while, I noticed he had gotten up and moved a few feet. Surprised, I walked over to him, picked up his leash and he started walking with purpose across the baseball field. I kept asking him where we were going, but then it hit me, that he had mustered up the energy to walk like we used to.

I knew this was something special, and that he had gifted me my last walk with him.

The next day, we took Ralph outside while we planted flower bulbs, with the kids digging in the yard. We spent hours outside and the weather was unseasonably warm for New Year’s Day, like the sun was shining down on him with love.

We brought him back inside, and I petted him as much as I could, telling him we loved him. I told him I was sorry I didn’t spend as much time with him as I used to, and that I was so sad and felt guilty for that.

I took a quick break upstairs and saw a video memory that popped up on my Facebook from exactly seven years ago to the day. On New Year’s day, Ralph was running around off-leash in the woods in our neighborhood park. He was young, spry, and happy. I knew then, that Ralph had sent the video to tell us that he wanted to be remembered like that. He timed it such that he was going to pass away the moment I went downstairs.

I petted Ralph through his last breaths. With tears streaming down my face, I told him that I loved him and that he could let go. I told him that he would see all his friends who had crossed over, including Cosmo, his first best friend, who was a French bulldog. I told him the names of all my relatives and friends who had passed away, and that he would see all of them as well.

I saw the light leave his eyes.

I petted him for a while afterward, feeling the softness of his floppy ears, and the scruff of fur around his neck. It was my first time seeing someone I loved pass away in front of me, and I wanted him to know he was not alone, and that I was there with him.

At 13 years old, he would’ve been 91 in dog years.

As Rob cared for him later, I saw his spirit in my mind’s eye and with my actual eyes, several feet above his body. He was young, energetic, and spry again. “It’s me! It’s me! I’m here!” he said. He felt exuberant, like he was free from an aging body that didn’t work for him anymore. He told me that he knew I felt guilty, but that everything happened so that I was there with him at the end, when it mattered most. He said that my lesson was about self-forgiveness. That he loved me and did not blame me for not spending as much time with him.

He mentioned that whenever I felt the need to work or do the dishes instead of spending time with my kids, that every time I chose to spend time to engage with them (even though I worried about something else not getting done), that I should say, “Thank you, Ralph.” That was the major lesson - to engage in the moment, to be present, to not let ideas drag on until it was too late.

Was it too late? No, he said it was perfect timing. Things happened in order for me to learn. And now that he was in spirit form, he would counsel and lead me from the other realms. What I didn’t realize until later, was that he was more than just a dog; he was my spirit guide in this life as well.

This gave me solace, but the next few days after he passed were filled with grief and guilt. I understood how people could fall into depression and not be able to get out. A few days later, he spoke to me again, and even visited my daughter in a dream. She said in the morning, that Ralph was free and happy, and that he did not have a leash on.

He’s since visited and advised us, encouraging us to spend more family time outdoors, to hike, and to follow our intuition.

I’ve learned a lot during this time. Ralph taught us how to love and how to be present. He taught me to explore the outdoors with curiosity and vigor. He taught us to be friendly to everyone and have a zest for life.

In honor of Ralph, we plan to plant a cherry tree with his ashes so that he can always roll around with joy in the cherry blossoms.

Hug your pets and loved ones a little harder. And when you feel the urge to work or do something instead of playing with them, choose to play. You can thank Ralph later.

Creativity for the New Year: A Channeled Message

I hope you are enjoying a time for reflection and relaxation during these last few days of 2023. As you gear up for the new year, I share a recent channeled message for you and reflection questions to help you spark creativity. May you be well served by this perspective.

Note: All capitalized words are intentional, as channeled from the Akashic Records, and denote words that are emphasized, or more important, for their meaning. Each one can serve as a source of reflection and journaling for you to discover what they mean to you and how you feel about them. I’ve italicized the reflection questions for convenience only.

***

As this year comes to a close, we encourage you to reflect on the following themes and envision what the next year could look like for you.

The year of 2024 is all about CREATION. There is an incredible yearning as a planet to create, to be witness to the shaping of something new, like transforming a block of clay into something that has lines, shapes, planes, and eventually, a face and body. The PROCESS of creation is one that we recommend you be familiar with and be in LOVE with. To love creation, is to be like God – to turn a wisp of an idea that exists in the unseen dimensions into the 3-dimensional reality of Earth. 

We want to remind you that God, in our sense, refers to what you feel is right for you. Whether it’s the Universe, Source, the unlimited energy, the infinite, the spiritual source of all that is and all that can be. It is unlimited possibilities and it requires a DIRECTION, a DESTINATION for the energies to CHANNEL THROUGH. It is this act of channeling, of moving the unlimited into something tangible, specific, and SEEN that is the ultimate for this next year. 

That means, you will get extreme joy and satisfaction, meaning and fulfillment every time you create. Whether it’s baking a cake, drawing a picture, coming up with an idea when you’re in the shower and then brainstorming and implementing the idea – bringing it into life… all of these things will generate joy. It doesn’t have to be a lucrative business idea. The point is that ANY act of creation will put you in the JOY, the expanded consciousness that will ALLOW things you desire to manifest, to be in the sphere of your influence. This influence is in the etheric realm, and it is how synchronicities happen, when the things that support your CREATION keep occurring in beautiful and miraculous ways.

You may have seen instances of this in your own lives. Search for them, expect them, and be curious about them. Ask the Universe for what beautiful and awe-inspiring ways they can support you in your desires. Because all desires are borne from the yearning for CREATION. They desire the final manifestation – the feeling of COMPLETENESS and WHOLENESS of the creation process at its end. This then makes way and makes room for the next spark of genius, the next creation process that makes the Universe as joyful and as in AWE of the way of the Universe – that which is magic – as you. 

To reflect, what do you want to create in the new year?

What do you want to create in your personal life for fun?

As a society that focuses on work so much, you have forgotten how to TRULY have fun. It is not just about escapism or numbing of feelings through substances, repetitive motions, or addictions. It is about the PURITY of fun – when the heart alights with JOY and LIGHT. This starts the lightness of being, feeling as light as a feather, floating up in the sky like a balloon – that effervescence and transcendence that life is all about. 

***

What came up for you from this message and your reflection? Please let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

And, don’t miss the opportunity to have a free 20-minute clarity call with me and receive your top two words or images to help you catalyze 2024. I will go into your Akashic Records before we even meet to channel this information and during the call, we’ll discuss what comes through and I will coach you on how to implement it into your life. Book this free call with me here.

Have a lovely end of the year and may the next be filled with joy and creativity.

New Home, New Beginnings: How Your Home Environment is Important

This is not my house, but it certainly is what I love! A cozy porch, dappled sunlight, and serenity.

A lot has happened over the past few years for me in terms of spiritual experiences and living on purpose. Most notably, my family moved out of New York City at the end of the pandemic for more nature, open space, fresh air, and new experiences. We bought a fixer-upper house in a somewhat suburban/rural area north of the city and have been learning all sorts of things about 100-year-old homes and renovations.

For someone who has only ever lived in rental apartments with the hustle and diversity of urban life, it was a profound change — one that I never thought would happen since I had refused to entertain the thought of leaving the city.

It took identifying what lifestyle we truly wanted as a family before we decided to try it out by staying in upstate Airbnb homes for months at a time, getting to know what kinds of houses and “feelings of community” we liked, and being inspired by other people’s decor (one of my favorite pastimes).

By going outside of my comfort zone, but leaving room to test it out, this journey has allowed even more growth and new experiences that I am immensely grateful for.

During the past few years, I’ve had numerous experiences relating to houses, the metaphysical realm, and purpose, including a few terrifying (and yet, illuminating) spirit encounters in an Airbnb we stayed in and some beautiful experiences in the home we ended up buying.

I would channel messages in these houses and discover that each house has a purpose, a deeper calling for how it can impact people, families, and communities.

My deeper lesson throughout all of this was to transcend my identity as a lifelong New York City resident and to choose to see the possibility, fun, and connection of a new place instead of focusing on the fear of the unknown.

This has led me to have a much deeper appreciation for homes, where we live, the energy of “place,” and what conscious choices we make to shape our external environment — from where and how we live and decorate, to how we treat the planet Earth.

I share this to invite you to reflect on your life and the past few years as well. Have you encountered recurring challenges or situations in your home environment, career, relationship, finances, parenting, or something else? Are you wondering what there is for you to learn, grow from, or transcend?

In the wake of the pandemic and everything going on in the world now, from flooding and natural disasters to war, I’m finding that PERSPECTIVE is the one thing that matters the most. How we perceive is more important than the situation at hand.

And, at the same time, your purpose may relate to making a brave choice about where you live, how you live, and what your home environment looks like. This has a ripple effect on everything else in your life.

I’ve coached many clients and channeled their soul purpose, and have seen how their home environment comes up often as a major area in their life that is yearning for change. Where you live (the city or place), whether you have a home base or are nomadic, who you live with, how you decorate, what senses are engaged when you are at home, and the intention and consciousness when you create or enter spaces — all are important parts of what can give you joy and nourishment on a deep level. It can also shape the impact that you have on the world in seen and unseen ways.

Some questions I suggest reflecting and journaling on are when you think of a situation in your life you want to transcend:

1. What do you think is the underlying soul lesson from the challenges or situations you’re experiencing?

2. What resistance do you feel?

3. What identity are you holding on to?

4. How can you shift your perspective to something positive and hopeful?

5. What can you do today to make your living environment a place of joy and beauty for you?

As you reflect, remember that life is like a spiral, going around and around revisiting similar situations and calling for you to have an ever-expanding perspective and awareness. When you can thank challenging situations as just opportunities to help you live your purpose, then you can have the peace within to create the vision you want from a place of possibility.

***

Knowing and expressing your purpose boldly will create deep transformations in your career, relationships, home environment, abundance, and the impact you make in the world.

If you are interested in understanding the deeper lessons in a challenging situation you’re facing, or you want to learn more about what your purpose is, as channeled through your Akashic Records (or the purpose of a house or place that’s important to you), please book a session or the Discover Your Purpose Coaching Package!

Learn more about my services here or set up a free 20-minute Strategy Session here to learn more about how I work and envision what you’re looking to achieve in 2024. During this session, I’ll also share the top two channeled words or images I receive in your Akashic Records to activate your purpose. 

Please comment below on what you discovered as you reflected on the questions. Or, send me an email directly to share your insights. I’d love to hear from you!

How to (actually!) listen to your Intuition

Lately, I've noticed how my intuition gently nudges me to take an action, like start a project, flesh out an idea, or reach out to a person or organization that interests me.

My ego-mind (the part of me that is rational and focused on survival) then comes up with all sorts of excuses to NOT follow that nudge. My ego says things like "It's too much work," or "I'm busy" or "That's an interesting idea, but it's just not as important as taking care of the kids/work/other urgent matter right in front of me."

I keep getting that nudge -- repeatedly and gently -- over time, until I decide to listen and go ahead with it.

The action I finally take after months of ignoring my intuition, let's call it action A, then leads me naturally to take action B, which then leads to action C, which then somehow leads to something that I truly wanted for a long time to actually become reality (a miracle!).

In that moment, I am in awe of the Universe, of just how complex and intelligent it is to somehow orchestrate this web of actions, people, and desires.

Tip #1: Write down those nudges and every time you receive them. Perhaps seeing them repeat themselves on paper will get you to acknowledge them.

Tip #2: One action can start a whole chain of events that ultimately leads to something you want. Just take one action, even if it's small, to get the ball rolling.

Tip #3: Notice your ego and how it may suppress your intuition. Awareness can help tame your ego and all the excuses it can throw your way. It also helps to label which "voice" you are hearing in your head by saying out loud, "My ego is saying ____ but my intuition is saying ___."

Bonus Tip #4: Just be in awe of the Universe. I find that being in that state allows for more goodness to come about that begets more "being in awe."

Let me know what you think! Leave a comment or reach out to my directly. I'd love to hear from you!

***

If you’re looking to learn more, I’m holding a FREE virtual Purpose Retreat tomorrow, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 6pm-7:30pm EDT all about intuition.

We're excited to feature special guest Dr. Anna Yusim, who is a Yale and Stanford-educated psychiatrist and author of "Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life." She will lead an interactive workshop to help you to better understand the nature of intuition and how we can use it to live a more soul-aligned, purposeful and fulfilling life.

Whether you're new to or experienced in tapping into your intuition, I invite you to this workshop to release blocks and gain deeper insight into an area of your life.

You'll be doing exercises including journaling, meditation, small group discussions, and writing a letter to your future self (which will be sent back to you one year after this workshop).

This event is part of a series of virtual "Purpose Retreats" where you can experience inner wisdom, creativity, and community. The event includes my signature singing meditation (an expression of my own purpose), an exercise to help improve an area of your life that is facilitated by a special guest, and a chance to connect with inspiring people around the world.

I hope you can join us and please share this with your friends!

The event is FREE though donations are always appreciated (suggested donation $15).

For details and to register, click here.

Community Spotlight: Kristy Sundjaja, Founder of Exceptional Artists Foundation

I’m so impressed with what people in the Being My Purpose community are doing as they boldly explore and express their purpose out in the world.

What drives them is both a commitment to make a positive impact and a recognition that this brings them joy. Whether they are creating a nonprofit, starting a business, doing meaningful work in their job or artistic expression, these people inspire me to keep exploring and being out there as well.

This will be a series of blog posts that spotlight people in this community from around the world. My hope is that you will also be inspired to follow your purpose, face any obstacles along the way with a higher perspective, and keep sharing what you’ve learned so that others may have an easier path.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Kristy Sundjaja, Founder of Exceptional Artists Foundation

Kristy is the founder of the Exceptional Artists Foundation (EAF), which empowers artists with disabilities by providing individuals with the tools, support, and outlet to live an expressive, purposeful, and happy life. To accomplish this goal, EAF creates events and initiatives to draw awareness about the Exceptional Artists' talents, develops a marketplace to sell their artwork to foster independence, and funds arts education, therapy, and training programs. Her brother, who has Down Syndrome, is an accomplished artist. She is also Senior Vice President of People and Operations at Taboola, a tech company in New York City.

1. How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

I love people and I am an optimist. I believe that everyone has the potential to achieve something exceptional in her or his life. To that end, I enjoy creating opportunities for people to unleash that in different communities, from my own family and friends to in schools and at work. In fact, I realize that throughout my personal and professional journey, I gravitate towards doing that in all different types of settings and organizations. 

I am also grateful that someone(s - more than one) tapped me and supported me, seeing me beyond who I was at different times. My mentors opened up my mind, believed in me, and encouraged me to take more exciting and rewarding challenges in life.

2. What projects, activities or moments give you purpose?

I don’t have specific projects, activities, or moments. Living a full life and doing my best on what I choose to do gives me purpose. My philosophy is that if you are not happy, don’t blame others because you chose to do it.

3. Can you give a quote from your intuitive reading that particularly resonates with you and explain why?

My intuitive purpose reading with Julie mentioned how I love learning and gathering knowledge, and that I have the purpose to share all of this knowledge with the world.  I do feel that I am doing that as a leader on a daily basis with my communities.

Sharing my experience (regardless of whether it is positive or negative) authentically with others often creates positive impacts. This, in turn, alters how I approach different experiences now; I will take any experience and do my best since I know that both myself and others will learn from my experience.

4. What is your favorite way to connect with your intuition?

 Meditation. Giving yourself a moment to quiet down and breathe.

5. What would you say is your biggest life lesson that you want to share with others?

At some points in life, you will realize that life is full of uncertainties. Over-planning will become less relevant than being agile and being present to the opportunities right in front of you. Instead of worrying, take action, and be open-minded. Embrace uncertainties because they can make life more interesting.

6. Can you describe 3 specific things that make up your vision of a better world?  

Love
Faith
Impacts

7. If you received a phone call that would change your life so that you can express your purpose even more, what would this phone call be about? How would you feel? Describe it as if it has already happened! 

I am having a tough time answering this question because I really don’t know what that call will be.  And, whatever I imagine is probably not going to be it.

“My callings” were never expected or imagined by me.  However, these callings are always so beautifully timed and always exceed my expectations. So, I have faith that what I am doing today is exactly where I should be and is the best way to express my purpose. When the time comes for me to expand my impact, the phone will ring. :) 

8. What advice do you have for other people looking to lead fulfilled and purposeful lives?  

Create a space for yourself to get to know who you are and what will truly make you happy.

9. What website or social media would you like to include so that people can learn more about your work?

Exceptional Artists Foundation: https://www.exceptionalartists.org/

10. Does 2020 reshape your purpose differently? Why?

2020 reaffirms to all of us that lives are full of uncertainties!  And when life takes everything away from you, stay in the present, and be open-minded. 

The pandemic shut down all in-person activities for Exceptional Artists. We were wondering what to do for our community! And then we looked around and realized that people were doing more in the virtual world with work from home and school from home.  So we said “let’s do our art experience at home” and we did! In fact, we were able to invite more exceptional artists to join our experience than ever before.

To a certain extent, I feel that 2020 stretched all of our potentials. As an organization, EAF expanded our potential and achieved more than we ever set out to do this year.  We are truly thankful for that possibility.  

***

Kristy Sundjaja was part of our first All Possibilities podcast episode with a live audience panel discussion on intuition, science, and spirituality. Other panelists included a psychiatrist, an entrepreneur, and myself. Listen to that episode here.

What's the best way to be grateful this Thanksgiving?

It’s nearly Thanksgiving in the out-of-the-ordinary year of 2020. With all the upheaval that COVID-19 has caused around the world (and still surging in the U.S.) and the drama of the recent U.S. presidential election, it is a great time to take a moment to reflect and truly give thanks for what we have.

That being said, Thanksgiving feels very much like a consumer holiday focused on eating turkey, traveling and being with family. During a time when the wise choice is to stay at home and choose social distancing instead of in-person holiday gatherings, I wondered whether the Guides of the Akashic Records had anything to share about gratitude so that we could approach it in the best way possible.

How can we be grateful? What does it even mean?

The Guides answered with the following channeling.

“Today, let’s talk about the feeling of gratitude. It is a word that is thrown about a lot, especially during Thanksgiving time. What gratitude means can be embodied in an image.

You saw a rose. As you looked at it, it unfurled from a bud to a full bloom, with layers upon layers of pink petals. It felt stately and beautiful, taking up space by proclaiming to the world that it is here. That it is beautiful. That it is OF beauty. 

This rose is something that just IS. It can be explained rationally for why it brings a positive sense of being to someone -- because it is beautiful, because it helps bees and is part of a larger ecosystem, that it can be food for bugs and worms. What function does a rose have? Do we really need to explain it? Can it just BE? 

Can you be thankful for a rose? Yes. Can you be thankful for its thorns? Yes, because it provides it protection. Can you be thankful for its color and progression of bloom, the awe that it brings? Yes, because that is inherently beautiful and pleasing to the eyes and soul. 

But can we be thankful for the rose JUST BECAUSE IT IS THERE? Yes. That is actually the goal. To be thankful, to have gratitude, to appreciate, to acknowledge something JUST BECAUSE. There does not need to be a reason. There does not need to be a rationale. There does not need to be an explanation for why something brings you joy, or why you SHOULD be thankful because you have learned something from it despite it being difficult or a challenge, no matter how damaging it is. 

The goal is to be thankful, to be grateful for something FOR IT ALONE. Period. Just end the thought there. When you can be grateful for something without an explanation, you are one with God / the Universe because everything has been created just for the creation, the sheer presence of that creation.

How can this be applied to your own life? When you are thankful for the little things, you see the moments of joy. When you are thankful for your difficult relationships, you are thankful because they are of God. When we say God, we ask that you understand this as the Universe, as the Highest part of yourself, of the Divine Intelligence - not as anything distorted by human stories, but of a loving, all-encompassing being that is of us and for us. 

When you feel this and understand this, you can simply sit and BE in the light of creation. You are thankful for something that was created BECAUSE IT WAS CREATED. No matter positive or negative. 

This leaves you feeling peace and at one with creation itself. It leaves you wanting to create as you are an extension of this energy too. For Thanksgiving, and certainly, for after Thanksgiving, be in this energy of gratitude and go forth and create. 

Create because creation is life.”

****

JOURNAL: After reading this channeled text, how does this shift how you approach being grateful? Take a moment to sit in the energy of this reading. Meditate and visualize this blooming rose and practice being thankful for it, just because IT IS.

***

When I reflect on this reading myself, I can see where I always justify everything and provide a rationale. I want to feel better about being stuck in the apartment for months on end and so I am thankful for my health and my family’s safety. But ultimately, I am thankful for my family because they ARE. I am thankful for my health because it IS. I am thankful for the state of the world despite its seeming chaos because IT IS.

It feels like a subtle shift in energy, but it is a powerful one.

May you and your loved ones have a happy, healthy, and virtual / socially-distanced Thanksgiving. <3

Thinking About Your Career in Times of Uncertainty?

Let’s face it. The COVID-19 pandemic, the economic consequences of lockdown and the continuing infection across the country (plus, the world) mean that we still don’t fully understand what the “new normal” will look like. Especially as “back to school” is just around the corner.

I’ve seen people get laid off, businesses forced to pivot completely or close, essential workers afraid whether they are exposed to round 1 (or round 2) on their commute or at work, and others who decided to move back home with their parents to make life work.

At the same time, many people blessed with the security of their jobs and who get to “work from home” while taking care of or homeschooling their children, can still pay the rent or mortgage. I know many who are taking the uncertainty of the future as an opportunity to move out of the city to a place that has open space and nature, or just live the nomadic lifestyle in a van. There is a lot of privilege to have the means to do this… but I give them credit for seizing the day. For having the guts to do so.

In these times of uncertainty, now is a great time to take a pause and reflect on your career. You may be saying to yourself that you don’t really know what you want. And that’s okay! Or you feel selfish that you don’t want to go back to school or the office because you want to put the safety of your family first. And that’s okay too.

These are real situations and real emotions that come with it. No matter what your own situation is, whether you love your job or you’re rethinking your direction, whether you’re feeling lost, angry, or excited, let’s pause to really feel and appreciate the humanity in that… in your ability to even feel these feelings.

***

I decided to channel a reading to see what the highest guidance is for us at this time. The situations may not apply to you, but the questions they pose are universal. Here is what the Guides say:

“Today, let’s talk about career. There is a lot to be said right now as people hold on to their jobs, as they think about whether they want to risk their own lives and the lives of their loved ones to not only provide a SERVICE through their jobs, but also to earn money to feed their families.

A career is something that speaks to your heart and also is practical.

There is nothing WRONG with earning a good wage to support your loved ones and also pursuing those things that you REALLY care about -- whether it is through reading, sharing, volunteering, or expressing yourself through the arts or other form of creativity.

There is nothing WRONG with earning a paycheck. And there is nothing WRONG with feeling like you don’t want to risk even a fraction of what frontline healthcare workers have risked because you are afraid of getting sick.

No matter what time it is right now — either during or after a pandemic — the timeless questions are this:

How do you want to spend your time, if it is finite?

How do you want to spend your free time and how do you want to spend your working time?

Do you want to spend it resenting your job or wishing you had another, or do you want to pour yourself into the excitement and feeling of open possibilities as you look for others?

Do you want to spend it hating your boss or company for demanding things of you or setting expectations that you don’t agree with or do you want to take a STAND for what you believe in?

Whether this means you take a different path because of the pandemic, or you embrace the uncertainty and exploratory phase of this part of life, you can CHOOSE what kind of EYES you see THROUGH.

Your PERSPECTIVE is what guides your attitude and what guides what doors you are capable of seeing.

You understand on a base level that when you are in a negative perspective, seeing yourself as small, unworthy, or not good enough, that you will automatically see those doors closing in front of you, whether or not that is ACTUALLY true. This is the illusion that you may have heard of -- the illusion that things are permanently the way they are. 

Instead, EXPERIMENT with shifting your perspective.

Put on a different hat. Put on a different pair of sunglasses. Put on the rose-colored glasses, the ones that let you see everything in a different light so that you can pick out the details and opportunities you seek. 

Try shifting your perspective when it comes to your career. And really look at your life to see -- is this how you want to spend your time? 

If the pandemic is teaching anything, it is that life is precious. Time is precious.

All we have is this present moment, when we can be AWARE, and in AWE of what life is capable of bringing us -- all the ups AND the downs.

Because those experiences --- that is what LIVING is all about.”

***

What does this reading bring up for you? I recommend journaling on these questions and experimenting with this shift in perspective.

Let me know what you come up with and how your process is. This can be an exciting phase of your life, but first, comes seeing in the way your soul wants to see.  

Love & Perspective in a Time of Coronavirus

There are plenty of photos that I can put here, but here’s one that leaves me feeling calm, in awe of the beauty of nature, and appreciative of perspective.

It’s Tuesday, March 18th, 2020. My family and I are in a voluntary “shelter-in-place” in New York City even though our mayor and governor have not yet decided to take such a step. Like you, wherever you are in the world, you are probably experiencing a different world than just a few weeks or months ago now that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 is here.

My hope is that you and your families are all safe and making the best out of a challenging situation. At the same time, I want to acknowledge that you might be going through a roller-coaster of emotions. I know I certainly did/am, and wanted to share my evolution as well as a brief channeling about how to best approach the fact that we are experiencing a global pandemic unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime.

***

A month ago, I was looking forward to warmer springtime weather, and using the month of March as a way for my family to go outside and explore before our baby #2 comes in April. As someone who’s Chinese- American, the month after giving birth is a month-long “sit” period when I am supposed to stay at home to recover and not go outside except for important things, like our baby’s doctor’s appointments. There are certain recommendations and restrictions on what I can/can’t eat, how to shower and regardless, I was already viewing April and May as my time “inside.”

With the pandemic, I felt a loss of freedom. I am the kind of person that loves going outside, exploring and discovering new things (even if it’s just the latest bargain at Marshall’s) and my two-year-old son loves going outside to play and see construction vehicles on the street too. I love breathing fresh air, seeing the sun and feeling the breeze, and taking advantage of the warmer weather to be with my family and (finally) meet up with friends. I was also looking forward to holding a live podcast recording event on March 10th to interview the co-directors of the Yale COPE Project, where we would talk about psychic intuition, mental health and spirituality. It was a get-together that was literally years in the making.

Things, of course, are now completely different. We made the decision to cancel the live event long before NYC started banning large events. We bought food and essential products bit by bit over the past month when the outbreak was starting to grow in China (and my mom would follow this news from her daily Chinese newspaper). It wasn’t until it arrived in NYC in full swing did we start seeing empty Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods shelves, empty streets, and empty playgrounds when the trees were just starting to blossom.

I felt sad for the horrible accounts of what people in China went through (and what Italy and other places are now going through). I felt unsafe going outside because of the discrimination happening in certain incidents and wanted my husband with me when we commuted to my prenatal doctor’s appointments. I felt scared of other people and also scared of meeting asymptomatic carriers (or potentially being one). I felt annoyed when I thought other people were either over-reacting or not taking it seriously enough. I felt nervous about cancelling non-urgent prenatal appointments or doctor’s appointments that are meant to make sure I’m all ready for when the baby comes. I hated wearing the mask outside because it fogged up my glasses, made it even harder for a pregnant lady to breathe, and because Asian people were attacked both for wearing a mask and for not wearing a mask in NYC.

These emotions are very real. I also felt joy at appreciating the few times I did go outside and breathed in fresh air. I felt the rush of awe of seeing empty supermarket shelves, of a different way of living in such a short period of time. During one trip to Trader Joe’s, a cashier was so friendly in the midst of scanning our canned tunafish, asking how we were doing and offering big smiles. It was remarkable what that point of connection did to our spirits even at a point when we’re wondering whether it’s okay that we’re nervously braving the crowded supermarket lines and that other people are touching all the emergency products we’re buying anyway.

I read about people singing from their balconies in Italy, people helping others, doctors from China helping those in Italy, and all those moments that show a level of humanity in the time of crisis. These are the moments that I think we’re meant to cherish and strive for.

***

I did a reading in the Akashic Records asking about the highest guidance for how we should approach this pandemic — for me personally, given all the things on my mind as a mom, wife and daughter, and also for all of us. I hope you will understand the excerpt and find it helpful in giving you something to think about, something to hopefully widen your perspective. From what everyone says, the worst is yet to come in the U.S. and I pray that God gives us the strength, love and faith to keep going.

***

This is an excerpt from my reading, which in the beginning is directed at me personally, talking about shifting perspectives to see that there is something to be gained even in a time of fear or loss of freedom. Then, it expands to direct the guidance to all of you.

"….Perspective means you can see both [sides] and you can appreciate both sides and the LESSONS that they give you. That is all it’s about. So, everything that has happened - cancelling the [podcast in-person] event, taking other people’s health and needs into consideration when it comes to your own actions -- that is all perspective. 

When you see everyone as connected, you lose the attachment and you can see all sides as neutral. Only then can you ask yourself, what do you want? You want health and peace for you and your family, for everyone in the world. You want freedom - freedom for fresh air, for movement, for enjoying the beauty of spring. You want people to love and to be safe. These are all things you want, and you can put it out there. Because that is then what your vibration draws in. When you are pissed off about not being able to do XYZ, or that your birth plan has changed or that you are inconvenienced by this, then it is an unsettlingly negative vibration. Instead, see this as a way for God to spread love. It is a hard way to do it, but SEE the love that can be there. See the BEAUTY that can be. See the CONNECTION that can be there even with social and physical distancing. That is how NEW perspectives are made.

For [others reading this], we recommend also viewing [your] own lives from this notion of PERSPECTIVE. What is in [your] lives that [you] need to change [your] view about, but that [your] ego has been resisting? What opportunities is this situation allowing for? Perhaps that there is humanity in all of us, no matter the country or boundary. Perhaps that some people will be more affected than others and isn’t this a time to see what WE can do for OTHERS to help or contribute as opposed to hunkering down as our own little selves or our own unit or class or city or country? There are going to be examples of people lending that hand when really they didn’t have to. Those are the moments that then cause a STIR, an opening for more meaning, for more hope, for more OPPORTUNITY and POSSIBILITY for humanity to pour out. It’s like viewing the heart as shuttered and then with one crack, the light can pour in. It is that one crack that is needed to even allow for light to heal and to multiply, the brighten the corners or crevices that have not seen light for a long time. 

From that perspective, think about how you can contribute to what’s going on. How can you help someone? How can you bring a smile to someone’s otherwise worry-filled day? Like that cashier from Trader Joe’s - sometimes you can see humanity and open up to it more when things like this happen.

To protect yourself, visualize the white light around you and your family, your house, your neighborhood, and be in that vibration as many times as you remember in a day. See even wearing a mask as connecting with others, and not fearing others or fearing a virus. There is a lesson to be learned in everything, and the world is learning it on the micro and macro levels, with each lesson a reflection of love, GREATER love, service, and greater good. Yes, there will be deaths, and yes there will be suffering and anxiety and all that comes with it. But on the other side of the coin, there will be hope, healing, a coming together, and a connection - a broad shifting of perspective that only things like this can engender.”

***

Of course, please follow all the guidelines about washing your hands, practicing physical distancing from other people, and flattening the curve, being mindful that young or old, we all have a responsibility to make sure we minimize the number of people we come into contact with, especially since some people can be asymptomatic — in addition to the present-moment intention of visualizing white light.

With this reading, I feel connected, in service to others, and grateful for what we have, especially those little moments of connection and humanity. I hope this is helpful for you. Please share your thoughts in the comments and may you have peace, health and love!

Shift Your Morning Outlook: A Channeled Message

Shift Your Morning Outlook: A Channeled Message

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a blog post and I’m excited to be back! I decided to channel a message from the Akashic Records for you today. I never know what is going to come through, but I always look at them as lessons and guides for my own life as well (meaning, they can help anyone, no matter where they are on the spiritual journey).

Today’s message is about how we can express ourselves in a way that creates a ripple effect on our planet. It actually stems from something as simple as our attitude in the morning and how we view each day.

Keep in mind that every so often, there are words that are capitalized. Those words are just emphasized as a way for us to pay attention to those particular words.

I hope you enjoy this message and journaling exercise. Feel free to comment and let me know how this serves you!

“There is a tendency to just live everyday as if it were the same as the day before. But it is not.

Every day is an opportunity to create and express ourselves in new and exciting ways.

Think of each day as a renewable cycle. Each morning is a time of rebirth and renewal, like a mini-spring that heralds in a new day.

There is excitement, there is opportunity for new ideas, and there is a NEED and an INVITATION or WELCOMING of new ideas, fresh ways of looking at the same thing.

It could be a fresh way of looking at a conversation you had the previous day, or a problem you’re solving at work, or an argument that you’re trying to get out of your mind.

Most of life is about trying to get the past out of our psyches so that we can focus on the PRESENT moment.

The morning, like the spring, is a way to see how the winter-- the dead leaves, the things that no longer need to be in our space -- can just be buried with GRATITUDE, because it has taught us lessons and is nourishing us from a very foundational level.

The morning is thus a time to APPRECIATE what you have, to SEE it through new eyes, through new perspectives.

That being said, in the morning, you can journal on this or ask yourself this and CONSCIOUSLY speak out your truth in response.

What can be reborn or renewed today?

What elements from the previous season/day/the past can be seen through a new perspective?

How are you inviting this newness into your morning or are you holding on to old ways?

Think of each morning as an opportunity to be reborn. You can be someone closer to who you are -- a vessel of LOVE, of EXPRESSION, and of PEACE.

Reflect on this and for this week, see how this awareness and inquiry is able to shift your mornings and ultimately, the OUTLOOK that you have for the rest of the day and week.

Write down your thoughts and make it physical -- ie, get it out of your head! The more conscious you are, the more your thoughts are written down and your awareness is able to drop any baggage and shift with this new sense of lightness.”