SHAMANIC JOURNEY WORKSHOP

Discover How To Release Stress and Empower Yourself

SHAMANIC JOURNEY WORKSHOP

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

Experience Your Hidden Power At Any Time, Any Place

(even if you don’t know the first thing about 
how to use your mind powers )

In this live Los Angeles workshop, you’ll be guided step-by-step to do a shamanic journey. This journey will enable you to enter a deep meditative state, but it’s not really “meditation” as meditation is commonly practiced today.

A shamanic journey will help you go beyond accessing a meditative state, which is a powerful bridge to your higher mind and inner power. You will learn how to cross this bridge rather than getting stuck on the bridge, as is the case with common meditations.

You’ll discover how to…

* experience deep states of total relaxation to access higher mind states

* dramatically reduce stress and anxiety

* release emotional/physical discomfort

* access a higher force beyond your sub-conscious mind

* learn how to get insights and answers to your most pressing questions

* have increased energy and greater optimism

*experience a greater spiritual connection

* learn how your mind works and what you can do to influence your reality

*increase your inner power and learn to overcome obstacles

* experience a greater spiritual connection

What’s a Shamanic Journey?

Did you know that throughout history, shamans, Apache scouts and other wise men and women of knowledge have possessed the power to journey deep within to tap the universal source of information and wisdom?

The Journey will enable you to enter a meditative type state, but it’s not really “meditation.” Many meditations are limited or ineffective. Common meditation practices require the person to sit still or lie still, and when deeper levels of meditation are reached, the person falls asleep or is nearly comatose. Also, typical meditative practices can not be used in a dynamic way.

The shamanic journey is not an end result, but rather a bridge to your higher mind, to your inner power. The objective is to avoid getting stuck on the bridge, as in the case with common meditations.

You want to cross this bridge rather than stay on it. And, once you do, you need to be active rather than passive. The objective is to interact with your higher self to ask for guidance, ideas, insights and answers to pressing questions that are important to you.

Your higher self is a force that is always there to guide you.

Why Should You Use Your Mind Powers?

When you experience deeper states of mind, you will gain far more than feelings of deep relaxation and the elimination of stress. When you shift your state of mind from ordinary states of mind (beta) to higher mind levels (alpha or theta), you can access your inner power.

Your mind is tremendously powerful. You have levels of mind that you have never used consciously. At higher mind levels, you can develop specific abilities that are far beyond what you can imagine. You can gain important insights as to what you need to do in your life to create what you desire, how to heal yourself or loved ones from physical, emotional or mental ailments, how to have more joy in your life and much more.

The mind is where everything starts. Your mind is your doorway into infinity.

Ancient wisdom and modern science provide many clues about the powers of the mind. In physics, for example, it’s known that the mere act of just observing a molecule changes its molecular structure. In other words, thoughts affect our external world.

Your thoughts influence your reality and your probable future. Thoughts affect all facets of our reality such as health, finances and relationships. Our potential mind power is beyond what we have been taught to imagine!

Modern science is only beginning to catch up to the wisdom that the ancient ones have passed on to us over the ages. There is an unseen web of energy that connects us all. A growing number of scientists and researchers call this web of energy the Mind of God.

DATE OF WORKSHOP

Saturday, February 5th, 2011,

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

If this course is no longer available when you register,

click here to get contacted about future course availability.

**To attend the workshop, payment must be received by

noon, January 27th ^th**

LOCATION

Franklin Canyon :

We will meet in a private location in Franklin Canyon. The canyon rests on 605 acres of awesome forested land near the center of Los Angeles (behind Beverly Hills).

http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=14

Click on the Buy Now button below to register for the workshop.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Mary Rivas, founder of www.UnlimitedInnerPower.com, will lead the workshop.

Lecture and the Shamanic Journey

(See Essentials below*)

Group sharing about the Journey

(Open invite to share experiences)

Individuals will be given a practice

(to be done outdoors in nature, weather permitting)

WORKSHOP PRICE

$60.00

ESSENTIALS FOR THE WORKSHOP

Once you have registered for the class we will e-mail you all the information you need to attend the class, including location of workshop gathering, directions to the canyon, and what you need to bring.

PARKING

Parking is available on the grounds at no charge.

**To attend the workshop, payment must be received by

noon, January 27 ^th**

Click on the Buy Now button below to register for the workshop.

ABOUT US

Mary Rivas has a degree in psychology and attended graduate school in psychology.  For nearly ten years, she has studied with shamans.  She is the author of How To Have A Greater Spiritual Connection: Creating Wealth, Health and Joy With Personal Power.  Mary has also produced a unique CD entitled The Journey; in this audio she teaches people shamanic journeying.  As a consultant, she works with individuals to help empower them and enhance everyday life.  Her philosophy is that we are all here to connect with our inner vision, the higher force within us that guides us in all areas of our lives.

Mary is the founder of  www.UnlimitedInnerPower.com.  She provides many free resources to help empower individuals on all levels.  Her blog www. UnlimitedInnerPower.com/blog provides additional free resources to help people spiritually, emotionally, materially and physically.

Contact us at services@unlimitedinnerpower.com

To learn more about The Shamanic Journey, watch our video here.

How A Vision Quest Can Be Life Transforming

WHAT'S A VISION QUEST?

The vision quest is a timeless spiritual practice. The traditional quest is one where the questor goes out alone in the wilderness and fasts from all familiar things---food, (sometimes water) and all communication with people for a period of days or weeks.

All the great spiritual teachers, such as Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, spent time alone in nature to connect with their higher spiritual self. You've probably heard about Jesus spending 40 days in the desert fasting. That was vision questing.

There are many forms of questing from every continent in the world. More common quests are four-day quests. Some consider the "sweat lodge" a form of questing.

This ancient practice is becoming lost as there are very few that teach about it today.

BENEFITS OF A VISION QUEST

Why would people want to put themselves thru this "little death"?

The purpose is to quiet the mind and take inner journeys---very possibly the greatest inner journeys one can take.

When you spend extended time in nature, your everyday mind (the beta mind state), starts to quiet down. As it quiets down, the higher mind, also referred to as theta and/or delta states of mind,emerges. As you access this higher mind, you connect to a higher force, to the spirit-that-moves-through-all-things.

And when that happens, it is life transforming. Many questors get visions during their times of solitude in nature. A quest can help you map out your life's path or what you need to accomplish before you leave this planet.

It answers the deepest spiritual questions and helps you to connect with Spirit. It also tests and develops
your personal strength.

Grandfather, a very powerful wise elder, considered the vision quest an absolutely necessary spiritual practice that could not be substituted.

WHO WAS GRANDFATHER?

"Grandfather" was an Apache wise man, healer and scout, named Stalking Wolf. By the time he was 20, he was called "Grandfather" by all the elders in his tribe, a sign of great respect for his spiritual and earthly wisdom. By way of several vision quests, he discovered that his path would be to leave his tribe for 60 years, traveling up and down the Americas searching out spiritual truths. At the age of 23, he left his tribe and became a wanderer on a life-long spiritual quest.

To learn more about Grandfather, ancient wisdom, powerful practices and empowerment techniques, visit our website.

Mind Machines To Super Achieve

I want to tell you about another powerful tool that you can use to train your mind to enter theta and delta to achieve some pretty awesome results. I'm talking about mind machines.

What they can do for you is mind blowing... 

WHAT ARE MIND MACHINES?

Mind machines are high-tech brain tools that have been proven to enhance mental functioning, boost brain power, alter your mood, and quickly produce peak performance brain states. They provide an avenue for experiential self-exploration. Mind machines can serve as gateways to the spirit, as tools of transcendence.

Light and sound machines, also called AVS (audio visual stimulation), are the most common mind machines. They're easy to use and affordable. Using light and sound pulses at a specified frequency, the mind machine stimulates mental activity in various ways.

They essentially enable you to shift perception from the waking state to a variety of altered states of consciousness.

MODERN MIND TECHNOLOGY & ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE

For centuries, temples, meditation schools and churches have used sensory stimulation to heighten one's experience. Light and sound, for example, have been used to quiet the mind and calm the body. Temple bells, singing, chanting, awe inspiring
architecture and flickering candles have been used to induce deep states of mind.  

Since ancient times, shamans and sages have used the power of fire and rhythmic drumbeats as a bridge to cross from the sub-conscious to deeper mind states.

Did you know that merely gazing into a fire can help you slip into a relaxed or dream-like state? That happens because the fire's flicker rate puts one in the alpha/theta range. Nature is truly our ally.

Today, we can use mind machines to our advantage and control when we want to induce these altered states. Flickering lights from fire can be replaced by flashing patterns via goggles, and drumbeats can be replaced by rhythmic sounds through headphones. 

HOW DO MIND MACHINES WORK?

They change your mind state by altering brainwaves patterns.

Brainwave activity tends to fall into four groups: beta, alpha, theta and delta. Brainwave frequencies are linked to various mind states and moods. 

Light & sound mind machines entrain your brainwaves into the states where meditation, dreaming, or concentration take place. These mind tools gently shift your brainwaves where you want them by stimulating your senses with beautiful patterns of light and sound.

The benefits of these high-tech mind tools center around the concept of what's called entrainment.

Entrainment means that the brainwaves take on the same rhythm of light, sound pulses or vibration. Entrainment occurs naturally in nature such as during rainstorms, bolts of lightning, the steady rhythm of chirping crickets, waterfalls, and streams.


Nature Versus City Entrainment

Entrainment is not always beneficially.  It also happens with the noises occurring in daily city life. Emergency sirens, fast racing vehicles, and airplanes are disruptive to your inner world. Pulsed light waves from television also produce brainwave entrainment-and not in a positive way.

Nature provides brain entrainment that serves to benefit you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Cities, in contrast,create entrainment which disrupts your brain from enjoying tranquility and peacefulness. 

Fortunately, the use of mind machines can allow you to create states of mind that will empower you whenever you want. They're a way to access inner peace and energized states when ever you choose. 

The power of accessing higher mind states restores the body's ability to relax and heal and so much more...

WHAT CAN YOU GET OUT OF IT?

Mind Machines induce deep states of relaxation, diminish negative emotions, and simplify meditative type practices.

Light and sound is an effective tool for anyone who wishes to explore altered states of consciousness, awareness expansion and sensory stimulation, psychedelic-like visual imagery, and profoundly deep relaxation. 

Experiences vary from person to person. Here's some of the benefits of using mind machines...

* Increased creativity

* Deep relaxation

* Memory improvement

* Deeper and better sleep

* Lucid dreaming

* More stable and positive emotions

* Immediate stress relief

* Increased energy after a session

* Enhanced ability to visualize

* Increased ability to focus

* Deeper levels of meditativeness

* Stimulation of growth hormone

* Pain reduction


WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SESSION?

With special light-bearing sunglasses over your closed eyes and headphones over your ears, you are immersed in colorful dancing geometric patterns and entrancing sounds. The light and sound pulse rate shifts from state to state as the session progresses; mental activity will follow the pulse rate of the machine. 

The stunning light creates psychedelic-like visual imagery within your mind and stops the monkey mind chatter.

With so many possibilities you may be wondering where to begin.

Visit www.UnlimitedInnerPower.com to learn more.

See also video below.

Welcoming January 2011!

In this month’s forecast, Lena Stevens, author and co-founder of an international school and consulting firm dedicated to the study and application of shamanism and wisdom, reveals influences and opportunities to take advantage of.

Click here to access the full monthly commentary that you can print and reference!

Below is an excerpt from the commentary.

The main theme for January is RESETTING PRIORITIES.

We are now under a new set of influences and themes. As the trends of 2010 have started their exodus as primary motivators and the new trends have begun to settle in, we are inspired to take the creative artisan energy of the last year and begin to use it in realigning our relationship with service. We want our lives to not just be creative but purposeful, growing us towards a deeper satisfaction around what we are actually doing here on the planet. In December, the influences were internal, transitional, re evaluating, and very focused on maintaining on a personal level.  The moving center of 2010 stepped aside allowing the emotional center to flow in as the primary influence for 2011. Many of you may have felt unfocused, unproductive, aimless, tired, subdued and possibly even un-inspired as the moving centered artisan influence of 2010 released its primary position. Now we have an adjustment period as we realign ourselves with what we have chosen for this year. For a time it may still feel like we are under the influence of the artisan as there is definitely the creative desire for expression. However the artisan is not running the show but rather becomes part of the foundation that is in service to the server role of the year.

One of the first things on the agenda for 2011 is to reset your priorities. Spirit has given you many clues and messages over the past months regarding what should be important in your life, where you should be putting your energy and intention, what needs to be let go of as it is of an old paradigm, and what you should be doing and with whom. Some of you have been better than others about listening to these hints and actually taking the steps to reinvent yourselves in a way more aligned with spirit. Therefore some of you will feel a surge of energy this month that should enhance this alignment and open opportunities for self-expression, support and the experience of service. The experience of service is not only related to how you can serve others and the planet, but also addresses how you can be served and how you are presently served by spirit, your allies, the elementals and all of nature.  There is definitely a potential in this alignment for a higher centered experience of life, connection, and all things being really “right”.

If you have not been great at listening and feel your life is somewhat less than you would like it to be, it is never too late to discard those attachments and to choose resolutions that will put you back on track. We are still under the influence of the very powerful winter solstice, eclipse and Full Moon, and will be until the New Moon on January 4 that comes with a partial solar eclipse. The time frame between two eclipses, especially when they are accompanied by other very powerful alignments, is always very potent and should be used proactively to set your intentions and to get things moving in the right direction. If you have been feeling unmotivated, lethargic and unfocused, that could change just before this New Moon when we should experience a surge of energy. Make sure this surge does not scatter you into chaos and negativity, but rather gives you some needed fuel to move forward in the right direction. If you have your priorities set straight you should experience more energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and movement. Pay attention to the intuitive wisdom of the emotional center and the synchronicity it produces. Don’t let the questioning mind get in the way of what you know to be emotionally true. Pay attention to the signs of spirit and don’t argue with or resist what is obvious.

The resetting of priorities this month will definitely be addressed, whether proactively by your decisions and choices, or not so proactively where you end up at the effect of someone else’s decisions and choices. For example, if you know you are in the wrong work situation but have not had the courage to do something about it, a decision may be made for you where you end up out of that work situation through a medical condition, being let go or some other unpleasant circumstance. Take the resetting of priorities this month seriously as there is a rather large engine of energy that wants to propel all of us in the right direction.  Evaluate where you are with your priorities and be truthful about what needs resetting. It may be that you will have to give something up or disappoint someone or take a risk. But if it is the right decision, you will know it.

Since we are under the influence of the emotional center, these decisions of what is “right” for you cannot be fully intellectual. The knowingness must come from another more intuitive place. This is especially challenging for those of you who are not as comfortable with the emotional center and who are used to relying on your rational mind for your answers and problem solving abilities. This is a time when little can be actually solved by “thinking it through”. It is better to use the capacity of the mind in support of the decisions of the intuitive self. Watch out for the obstacles of Self-deprecation and Martyrdom as they try to discourage and disregard what you feel as insignificant, wrong or unworthy. Watch the mind as it strives for control through these obstacles. Trust and hope may be uncharted waters for you but they may be all that is left in some situations.

Remember that what is right for you will also be influenced by the server role of the year.  Re evaluate your motivations for anything you do and any situation you are in. Have the courage to change your mind, say no or yes, and to open yourselves to receive the support and service available to you. The era of going at it alone to prove your strength, power and independence from others is over. This is a time of building trust, receiving support, and collaborating with others. Resetting your priorities should always include putting yourselves first in line to be served by spirit and to receive what is available to you.  Sometimes it is difficult to see through to what is your priority over what is someone else’s priority. In partnership you may have to compromise and support and honor another’s priority at the same time as supporting and honoring your own. This requires a balance so that there is an equal exchange. Often to make a collaboration work, all parties need to be supported equally in a give and take exchange especially when it comes to what is most important. What is most important to you may not what is most important to another and vice versa. Coming up with a balance where everyone gets their needs met and their importance honored will create a balance and bring the spirit of service into any partnership. The main thing is never to give all your power away and compromise yourself completely as this will only lead to resentment and Martyrdom. At the same time, if you are a person who does not make a point of considering what is important to others, this could be an opportunity for you to improve your partnerships by doing so.

Let’s look at some of the specific areas you may need to reset priorities and what it may mean for you if you do it successfully and what it may mean if you don’t.

To read about the influences this month on your finances,

relationships and health, click here to read the full commentary.

Powerful vs Weak Affirmations---Four Tips Everyone Should Know

You've probably heard that saying affirmations over and over again can change your life. Or that viewing your affirmations on a daily basis can create changes. Or you might have cds that play affirmations for you.

But do affirmations really work?

The answer is yes and no.

Let me explain.

The right affirmations, done properly and applied with other techniques can really make a difference. The wrong affirmations, said the wrong way and not applied properly will be completely ineffective and can create disasters in your life.

So just how do you use affirmations in the right way so that you get maximum results?

1. Be aware of how affirmations work
2. Know how to create them
3. Experience them in the deeper levels of your sub-conscious mind
4. Use them for certain time periods and at powerful times

1. AFFIRMATIONS ARE REALLY CONTROLLED THOUGHTS

Thoughts are instructions sent to your subconscious mind. Thoughts repeated regularly become beliefs. After a while you start to believe what you repeatedly think. And, when your beliefs change,
your world changes.

Thoughts create reality. Thoughts are forms of energy. Everything on the physical plane has a spiritual counterpart.

Visible forms of energy, such as money, your clothes, and the car that you drive, once were invisible. They were once thoughts that coalesced into form and density until they materialized on this
physical plane. Everything that exists on the material plane, once existed in the world of thought, in a realm that is infinite and that is not bound by time or space

Thoughts are your hidden allies that you can use to get things to happen.

2. HOW TO CREATE AFFIRMATIONS

Before thoughts can transform into visible forms of energy, they need to be energized in a certain way.

Below are examples of weak affirmations vs. powerful, energized affirmations. See the notes below to understand why they are weak vs. powerful.

Weak Affirmations

A) "I pray that I can get rid of my debt soon"
C) "I will meet the love of my life one day when I least expect it"

Powerful Affirmations

B) "I am thankful for creating huge financial success right now
in an easy and enjoyable manner."

D) "I know exactly what to do to realize a joyful relationship
with my dream partner and I am thankful for being guided every day."

Affirmation A --- is too vague and is likely to produce vague results at best. Even worse, this affirmation focuses on a negative thing--- "debt" and by focusing on debt, you're likely to actually create more debt in your life. Train yourself to focus your attention on what you want and to avoid thinking about what you
don't want. Put your energy into happy thoughts.

Affirmation C --- is vague and focuses on the future. With this type of affirmation, you are likely to delay producing the relationship you desire since you are essentially telling the universe to give it to you in the future ("I will") rather than now. You could be waiting a long time.

Affirmation B and D --- use the powerful "I am" decree and these words put you in the present ("I am now") rather than the past or future. When using "I am", only use positive thoughts; negatives
are best placed in the past. Lastly, these goals are detailed and as such the universe knows clearly what to deliver to you.

3. ENERGIZE YOUR AFFIRMATIONS

Focus on your affirmations throughout the day, especially when you're in a meditative-type state such as theta.

When your mind quiets down, and you access deeper levels of consciousness your thoughts are more energized and more powerful. When you are in a deep state, such as theta, your sub-conscious mind
is more receptive to commands. It's especially important that you focus only on want you want and avoid all thoughts about what you do not want. Be keenly aware of your thoughts and only hold those
thoughts that you want to materialize.

Get into the spirit of what you desire. Feel it as if what you desire has already happened. Then, let it go.

Relax and trust that your goal is now in the process of being materialized. Many people have difficulty relaxing because they are filled with doubts. Be aware that by associating heavy emotions,
such as tension and doubt, with your goals, you are making it difficult to materialize your goals.

Achieve your goals faster than you thought possible when you relax and energize your ideas during states of theta.

4. BE AWARE OF THE POWER OF NUMBERS AND POWER TIMES

Don't allow yourself to be discouraged if nothing seems to happen when you practice affirmations. Reserve judgment. Keep at it. It takes 21 days to break a habit. It takes 40 days to make a new habit
and 90 days to lock it in. From a shamanic perspective, the most powerful times to focus on
your goals and affirmations are at sunrise and sunset.

Humans are plugged into the natural world. We don't function separately from it. We are deeply connected with it. As such, the earth and the natural rhythms affect us. For example, when the sun goes down, we naturally get sleepy.

At dawn and dusk, our brain waves (rhythms) are closer to theta. Theta corresponds to the world of spirit. And, when we are closer to spirit, we have a stronger effect on the material plane.

Thoughts are invisible forms of energy that live in the world of spirit. When they are energized enough, they materialize on the physical plane.

That doesn't mean that you only focus on your affirmations during those two times of the day. It means that you take advantage of those times to give your affirmations extra power.

You need to say and feel your affirmations, as explained above, regularly throughout the day.

If you say an affirmation just once or twice a day but for the rest of the day fill your mind with negative thoughts, you'll eliminate the power of your affirmations.

If you want to get a new job and you say a positive affirmation about finding a new job, but then follow it up with a series of negative thoughts such as "There are no good jobs." or "Nobody's hiring during this bad economy..." That kind of attitude will lead to negative results, like not finding a job or finding a job that
you don't like.

Yes, you can absolutely get affirmations to work if you create the right affirmations, apply them correctly and use techniques to energize them.

A powerful way to energize your affirmations and goals, is to access the deeper levels of your mind. I highly recommend going into theta to energize your affirmations.

You have unlimited powers. You are a remarkable human being.

Create the right affirmations, and direct the power of your subconscious mind to help you create the life you want.

Begin working with the power of your mind and change your reality.

Visit http://UnlimitedInnerPower.com to get a FREE audio that will help you reach deep states of mental and physical relaxation and much more. We promise that you'll enter a state of altered heightened consciousness (theta) within the first ten minutes of listening. When you sign up, you'll also receive inspiring articles and stories to help you become more empowered.

December 2010 Forecast–How Will This Month Play Out?

In this month’s forecast, Lena Stevens, author and co-founder of an international school and consulting firm dedicated to the study and application of shamanism and wisdom, reveals influences and opportunities to take advantage of.

Click here to access the full monthly commentary that you can print and reference!

Below is an excerpt from the commentary.

The theme for December is MAINTENANCE.

This is a month of putting time and energy into all those aspects of your life that require maintenance at this time. Maintenance is not only about changing the oil in your vehicle or drain opener in your pipes, although that may be right on target for some of you. Maintenance also refers to your physical and emotional health, your home, your spiritual life, your relationships, your car, your things, your work environment, your routines, practices and disciplines. This is an excellent time to review what is out of balance or has been neglected and to take action or make a plan to take action. It is a good time to scrutinize your environment to notice what is broken or in need of cleaning, elimination or an upgrade.

December is characterized by an energy that is local, ordinary, somewhat inward and close to home. Keep good boundaries against putting too much expansion on your plate, as this is not the month for it. Look to what needs doing in your own back yard. Fix or upgrade the things you already have rather than expanding into new territory. The influences are pulling the energy inward and some of you may feel restricted or confined by it. Beware of impatience and becoming agitated or antsy around the illusion of limitation. Think instead of this time as catching up to yourself through the process of maintenance in the areas that need it.

Things in your life that do not function are an energy leak. If you have a broken toaster that is waiting to be fixed, either fix it or get rid of it. We learn to live with things around us that do not function. They get stuffed into a closet or put into the garage. Part of maintaining balance in your life is to address these items that are not functioning or are no longer useful and to do something about them.  They create dead weight and take up valuable psychic space. It does not matter what you paid for something or who gave it to you. The price of having these things around holding energy is not worth it. Either fix them and put them back into service or give them to charity or to someone who can fix and use them. A good formula if this task feels overwhelming is to take one thing every day and either fix it, take action to fix it or decide to eliminate it. How many items of clothing do you have waiting to be mended or waiting for a button to be sewn on? Do it or get rid of it.  Look in your closets and junk drawers and basements, attics and garages and just pick one thing every day.

Then take one thing everyday in your physical environment that simply needs maintenance like cleaning the fridge or your oven, or weeding out a bookcase or changing the oil in your car, and do it or take action to do it (like calling the housecleaners or making an appointment with your mechanic). Then take one thing that could use an upgrade and take an action step towards that upgrade. This could be buying a higher quality food item or something inspirational such as flowers for the table, or something to support your health. It could also include refreshing the paint on a wall or replacing a ratty piece of furniture. All of this activity sends a message to the quantum field that you are taking Maintenance seriously and you will definitely be rewarded for it.

An equally important part of the Maintenance theme this month is to look at the aspects in your life that need more from you at this time. If you have neglected your health due to a busy work schedule, this would be the time to do something about that. Whatever it is that you require for more balance should be included in your daily routine and program this month. Whatever you need more of, whether it be rest, exercise, healthy diet, a hair cut, teeth cleaning, body work, etc., work it into your schedule this month and make it a priority. Many of you have a tendency to put yourselves last. This is a month where you need to put yourselves first on the list of things to maintain. Since the influences of December are consolidating the energy towards self and the home front, always think of what is best for you and resist the tendency to want to please others. There will always be someone who is disappointed in your choices. Don’t take it personally and avoid reacting to the projections of others. Beware of your energy leaks. Identify them, eliminate them and focus on re charging yourself.

Some of the less obvious and more intangible areas requiring maintenance are the areas of relationships, personal growth, spirituality and intentions. Regarding relationships, this is a good time to make note of what relationships need some attention and to do what is required. If you have not been spending enough time with your family, pets, employees or good friends, this would be the time to remedy that. If unimportant people are unreasonably demanding of your time and energy, you may have to set some boundaries in order to maintain a balance. Pay attention to old relationships that cycle back into your life with unfinished business or karmic history. Do what it takes to get things back into balance. Be honest with yourself and others regarding where your responsibility lies and where it doesn’t. You can’t fix it for someone else, only for yourself.

The area of personal growth and spirituality has to do with your relationship to self. Only you know where you are in this area and what it means to you. Maintenance may include professional emotional help, the support of putting into practice bits and pieces you have collected over the years in the area of personal growth, and perhaps some discernment of what you do and where you go from here. Most of all it is important to pay attention to your emotional and spiritual well being, to practice good spiritual and emotional hygiene, and to do whatever you can to stay connected to spirit and to follow your own intuition. Don’t worry if you don’t feel like you are making any progress this month. This is not about feeling expansive and higher centered but rather about getting all your ducks in a row in preparation for what’s to come. All the work that is being done under the surface is creating a stronger and deeper foundation that will carry you through future times. And it does require attention, discipline and maintenance.

Your dreams, plans, intentions and desires also have to be maintained. If you have a practice of visualizing or affirming your intentions or setting goal or wish lists, this practice also needs maintenance and attention. Anything that becomes too much of a routine where you are no longer present with the process needs to be re evaluated. Try going over your practices in this area and re inventing them just slightly so they become more meaningful to you. Whenever you make a change, you are likely to be more present with the process until it becomes routine again. This is also a good month to re evaluate your current goals, intentions, dreams and plans to see if they are presently viable, appropriate or something you still really desire. Remember to make sure they are yours and not in consideration of someone else. You can never set goals and intentions for someone else, only for yourself.

The downside of this month is that you may feel overwhelmed with how far you have let things go in the area of maintenance. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take it one step at a time, do one thing at a time. Watch the tendency for procrastinating and make a little sign for yourself that says DO IT NOW. Watch self-deprecation as it wants to judge you for being so neglectful. It does not serve to wallow, complain or be depressed. These are energy leaks. Just do one thing at a time that does not feel overwhelming to you, like polishing a pair of shoes or doing your laundry. Remember that part of this practice of maintenance is symbolic therefore polishing a pair of shoes has an energetic ripple effect that will begin to form a pattern of momentum around other maintenance tasks. The other challenge this month could be a tendency to feel flat, bored, impatient, and like nothing significant is happening in your life despite the numerous activities of the day. You may feel like you are spinning your wheels especially if you are person somewhat addicted to the drama of high level activity. Relax, there is a lot happening in the mundane day to day and this is an important time to regroup, recharge, maintain and rebalance.

To read about the influences this month on your finances, relationships and global issues, click here to read the full commentary.

Beyond Meditation -- Secrets of An Ancient Powerful Technique

Throughout history, shamans and other wise men and women of knowledge have possessed the power to journey deep within to tap the universal source of information and wisdom.

Shamans have always known that the answers we seek can be found within. Bypassing the stumbling blocks of the outer, material world, they perfected techniques of accessing higher mind levels to find answers, gain insights and achieve profound understandings.

WHY JOURNEY?

The shamanic journey is a technique for accessing higher mind levels to get answers on questions that are important to you, to gain insights and achieve profound understandings. It is a great tool also to use for training the body and mind to enter deep states of total relaxation. At a minimum, you will learn how to release stress and to help heal your total being.

THE SHAMANIC JOURNEY

A shamanic journey enables you to enter a meditative type state, but it is not really "meditation" as meditation is understood and used today. Most meditations are limited or ineffective. Common meditation practices require the person to sit or lie still, and when deeper levels of meditation are reached, the person falls asleep or is nearly comatose. Also typical meditation practices can not be used in a dynamic, moving way.

A journey is not an end result, but a bridge to the higher self---a force that is always there to guide us. The objective is to avoid getting stuck on the bridge, as is the case with common meditations. You want to cross this bridge between the sub-conscious mind and the higher mind. Once you do, you need to be active rather than passive. That is, you want to ask for guidance, answers and any help that you deeply desire in your life.

PREPARING FOR A JOURNEY

Before beginning a journey, you are advised to focus on a specific question or a subject that you need help with. Your questions can range from the sublime, such as asking what you can do to become enlightened, to the most practical, such as asking about a work related issue.

Have a purpose for your journey. Imagine that you are going to talk to a very old wise man or woman. You will want to be patient, respectful, calm and receptive to everything this wise being has to say.

You can pose your question in one of these ways:

•Will this job offer be a wise decision for me and my family?

•How will the problems in my relationship be resolved?

•How can I make money in an easier and stress-free way that brings me greater happiness?

How A Typical Journey Is Done

Here's a brief description of how a typical shamanic journey is done: When you are first learning to journey, you sit down or preferably lie down in a relaxing space. In the beginning, it is best to close your eyes and have relaxing music in the background to help you focus. You are guided to follow a relaxation process that includes breathing exercises and releasing body tension. You then imagine a place in nature, such as a forest or desert, where you walk down a path until you reach an entrance, such as a cave opening or an arch that is part of the earth. Once you walk through the entrance, you are guided to use all your senses as you enter a deeply relaxed state. As you journey, you pose a question that is important to you. By accessing a higher mind state, you access messages, insights and guidance that you may not access during normal waking states.

It is advisable to follow a step-by-step guide when you are first learning to journey. Once you train your mind to do shamanic journeys, you can journey by yourself at any time and any place, even while you walk.

The shamanic journey is used for communicating with your higher self--with Spirit. It is practiced to retrieve information from the higher realms of the mind. From ancient times, shamans have used the process of journeying to travel within to access answers, insights, guidance and help from the spiritual realm.

To learn more about shamanic journeying and a free bonus e-book on journeying visit http://unlimitedinnerpower.com/journeylaunch/