April Lange's Blog

How to be a Conscious Creator on Election Day

April — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:35:33 EST

I received this in my inbox today and it's just the reminder I needed to take a deep breath, turn off the incessant stream of media coverage and rest in the assurance that I've donated, knocked, and called - and now have voted - my work now turns within. To prayer, reflection, and deep gratitude for the blessing of living in this country at this time in history.

Enjoy!

Election Day is a day when people get into a high state of desire
- and, often, an even higher state of resistance.

We want you to remember your power to be a Conscious Creator
today, so we've put together the following points to help you
keep what is most important at the forefront of your mind.

1) Conscious Creators focus upon what they want, not what they
don't want.

Remember, what you focus upon expands and what you resist,
persists.

We must see elections as an opportunity to vote "for" what we
want without allowing ourselves to get caught up in the illusion
that we need to push against we don't want.

(BTW, after the Bush-Gore election, Abraham-Hicks reported that
the election was lost by the group that was pushing against the
other side in the strongest way.)

So today, whatever your choice, keep your focus upon the benefits
of your candidate's approach - and release your attention to the
other candidate's apparent "lack".

2) Conscious Creators use tools to keep their energy on track -
under any and all conditions.

If you spend the day glued to the radio and television reports
waiting to hear whether your preferred candidate is winning or
losing, you will likely find your energy going up and down like a
roller coaster.

On a day such as this, it is more important than ever that you
use your power of "choice" and commit to keeping your energy
vibration high.

Regardless of which candidate you prefer, do yourself a favor and
spend 10 minutes today focusing on the strengths and gifts of
BOTH candidates.

As Abraham explains:

"We would make the longest list of positive aspects about the
other 2 speakers on the platform that we had ever made in our
life.

We would speak of the power of their desire to lead and the power
of their desire to serve.

We would speak about how they wanted this almost the day their
feet hit the ground in this time-space reality.

And how each of them is prepared in their own unique way to be
all that they need to be, to stand in that place."

3) Conscious Creators never lose sight of their true power.

As a Conscious Creator you know that the person in the White
House is only a bit player in the unfolding of your personal life
story.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the outcome of this
election can alter the happy ending that you have been intending
for your life.

Here is a reminder from Abraham:

"Do not hold these two men (or either one of them or anyone on
the planet) responsible for the Well-Being that comes to you.
This man...is not responsible for your Well-Being. You are
responsible for your Well-Being. Give them a break."

Hoping that you found this helpful (and, if you did, pass it on),

Elyse Hope Killoran
President, Prosperity from the Inside-Out

Mean People Suck

April — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:21:04 EDT

So I was bumper sticker shopping today...

I bought a new mini-van about a week ago and lest I be confused for a soccer mom, I decided I would definitely need some great bumper stickers to distinguish myself from the crowd of mini-vans out there on the roads. I've been looking for stickers to make a statement about me and my interests or beliefs, but I was purposely avoiding anything blatantly rude or offensive. My goal is to say "hey check out my smart statement," not to get honked at or flicked off as some angry disagree-er speeds past me.

Some contenders have been the standard peace sign, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." "Think. It's patriotic." "Got hope?"(Obama) and of course, "OBAMA '08"

Generally, I'm not a fan of bumper stickers on my car. I love reading them and finding really cool ones, but usually when it comes to actually putting one on my own car I decline, not wanting to label myself this or that, and of course not wanting to offend anyone. I've bought a lot of really cool, really funny bumper stickers, too. They ended up taped up on my wall by my desk. Most were not appropriate for kids and now they must be floating around in a box somewhere in my house. Anything referencing pot, sex, or an expletive will probably be in retirement until my kids are old enough to get the joke. As much as I believe pot should be legalized, I just can't bring myself to be the mom picking up at pre-school that has "Smoking Pot is NORML" attached to my bumper. But, believe me, you will never see me with a D.A.R.E. sticker either!

So, I'm shopping for bumper stickers and I'm looking for one with the slogan "straight, but not narrow" to show my support for the GLBT community and I'm looking at cafepress.com, they had some great stickers, and some of the most mean spirited, rude stickers I've ever seen! Stickers suggesting Barack Obama should be water boarded or that the Obama's are stupid, scary, racists, terrorists, or hateful people. Seriously, some of the "slogans" were making my stomach turn. I don't think cafepress.com is completely responsible for these sick attempts at political humor cleverly disguised as hate, apparently on their site anyone can create and sell their wares; t-shirts, caps, bumper stickers. Anyone could've written this crap. In fairness, I would've been equally disgusted if the remarks had been made about the McCain's. I hate the gutter that has become modern political discourse. I've said from the beginning of this cycle that I thought if any two candidates could raise above the accepted level of negativity, it's Obama and McCain. (Although I might have been wrong about that in hindsight.)

But the remarks aren't made about McCain, in fact, about the "meanest" statement about McCain I could find was to call him "McSame" as in same as Bush. Wow. That's so low. (Can you hear the sarcasm in my typing?) So one is insulted with being same as Bush, which I guess could be considered being called a retard, while the other is called a terrorist and a bigot, deserving of torture? Nice.

See, this is why despite my conservative ideals in some areas, I can never fully get behind the Republicans. Please don't confuse what I am about to say as painting with a broad brush, but most of what I've observed them saying and doing is MEAN! Not all Republicans. Maybe not even most Republicans. But enough that mean is a word I think of when I hear "elephant." Would "compassionate conservative" have been a necessary distinction had others not shared my thought on this? Alas, you see my point. And don't even get me started on Fox News....

So, while looking for just the right statements to make with my bumper, I feel I should look once again for what I had back in high school, one of the few bumper stickers I've ever actually stuck to my car....

MEAN PEOPLE SUCK

However, I won't do that. I will stick to my own values of positivity, hoping for change, keeping faith in my fellow American's, whether I think them mean or ignorant or not. Why do what the "other," what the "disagree-er" does? My goal is, after all, a positive, non-threatening, non-offensive statement, not an incitement for road rage or pissy honks. (Writer's note - I said it that way just because I wanted to use the phrase "pissy honks" LOL) Mean people do suck but by being mean back, I'd suck, too. And I'd be compromising my values.

When we went to see Obama in St. Paul last month, my friend Scott and I were approached by a woman handing out fliers for a protest scheduled to take place during the RNC coming up in St. Paul later this year. For a moment, I forgot my values and a little mean spirit came out of me "ya wanna go? Might be fun..." I said to Scott. He replied he'd rather give his attention to what he's for, not to what he's against. I thought to myself "he's right." And I haven't forgotten that as the campaigns are moving forward. I am for Obama, not necessarily against McCain. I am a bipartisan, progressive, Democrat-leaning independent thinking person that strongly dislikes labels (it almost hurt typing all those) but in a society bent on classifying ourselves into groups, there you have it. Now if only I could find that sentiment on a bumper sticker.....

*I originally posted this on mySpace and I became so angry about what I was reading on some of those nasty bumper stickers - comparing Obama to Hitler, for example or one that said "Obama Free Zone: Mention his name and I will drop you where you stand" - just made me so mad and left me wondering, "ok, Ms. Stick to Your Values, now what are you going to do?" And my answer - launching my "Nickels4Nasties" fundraising goal. Which can be found on my profile. Please join with me in this effort. Let's stop getting mad and let our money talk, while the BS walks.

We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For!

April — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:17:46 EST

When Mr. O said that last night, and when Maria Shriver said it at UCLA on Sunday - I bet they didn't know that there is a song with that message that exsists out there. A lovely duo by the name of Devotion (New Thought, spiritually charged married singers/songwriters from Colorado) have a song on their "Intention" CD called "We Are the Ones"

The lyrics are:

We are the ones, we are the ones that we’ve been waiting for

We are the mothers who breathe with Mother Earth
We are the fathers, blessed with a gentle strength
The sisters and brothers, respected, hand in hand
The sons and the daughters who walk upon this sacred land

We are the ones, we are the ones that we’ve been waiting for

We are the healers who hear the voice of truth
We are the elders whose wisdom guides our youth
The searchers and seekers with wings spread to the sun
The shapers and builders whose work for peace is never done

We are the ones, we are the ones that we’ve been waiting for

We’re givers of mercy, believers in grace
Singers of great beauty and keepers of the faith

We are the sailors who’ve come back through the storm
We are the dreamers, resting in God’s arms
The dancers and lovers who move beneath the stars
The masters and teachers whose visions remind us who we are

We are the ones, we are the ones that we’ve been waiting for

It's sung in a chant-like style and as commentators (Olbermann and Matthews) talked about liking the phrase so much, I wanted to yell at my TV screen "hey, hey! That's a song, too!" As popular as songs in the Obama compaign have become, Devotion came to my mind because they also have songs titled "Do All You Can" and "These Times" that remind me SO MUCH of this movement. I'll actually write up a piece on "These Times" because it really speaks to the heart in a similar way as Barak, in my opinion. If I can figure out a way to share the music and not just the lyrics, I will.

Devotion's website is www.devotionsings.com - their music is positive in every way and so inspiring. I think Obama supporter's can appreciate that.

As for where the phrase came from - I found this while Googling; (Maria Shriver did say it was from the Hopi Indians)

The Hopi Elders Speak

We Are the Ones
We've Been Waiting For

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for.

—The Elders Oraibi
Arizona Hopi Nation

COOL!