Tag: motivational

#MondayMotivation – #Meditation – #TarotReading – #DragonOracleCard

Published on by Jan Sikes57 Comments

Happy Monday, everyone. I am thrilled to report that I am about 98% recovered from my tangle with COVID, thank goodness!! I appreciate all the well-wishes, prayers, and positive vibes you sent my way. I loved this quote from William Faulkner. It made me pause and think for a minute.

created in Canva

A beautiful meditation to help jumpstart the day!

The Tarot reading for this week is hopeful and solid.

Photo by Jan Sikes

The keywords for The Sun from the Major Arcana are: Positivity, fun, warmth, success, and vitality. You don’t know what a welcome sight this card is! If you are going through a difficult time (I certainly have been), The Sun brings you the message you have been waiting for: that things will get better, a lot better! Hallelujah! The Sun connects you to your power base – not fear-driven, egotistical power, but the abundant, inner energy radiating through you right now. You’ll sense it in your Solar Plexus chakra, calling you to express yourself authentically and be fully present in the world around you.

The King of Cups represents a balance of emotions, creativity, and the unconscious. When this card turns up in a Tarot reading, you have gained control of your feelings and can accept them without allowing them to get the better of you. Even when life throws you a curveball, you can draw on your emotional maturity and stability to help you navigate these challenges. You don’t let things get to you, and you steer clear of the drama, instead choosing an emotionally balanced and calm approach.

The Nine of Pentacles speaks of financial independence. The woman in this card has created a luxurious lifestyle by her own actions and efforts. She encourages you to do the same – to create abundance and independence so that you can take care of yourself in the long term. Invest wisely and seek financial advice to make the most of your wealth. Don’t rely on others to support you; this Nine is an independent woman. While the suit of Pentacles typically focuses on material wealth and gain, this card also suggests that you are in harmony with the environment around you. You appreciate the beauty and abundance found in nature, and you can harness this high-vibe energy to bring pleasure into your life. 

My Takeaway:

What a welcome sight, these cards are. From the sun shining and bringing new vitality and creativity, to the emotionally balanced King of Cups and the secure and independent woman, this is a super positive reading and it reflects what I feel inside. I do not mean to downplay COVID. It’s a horrible nasty virus and it knocked me down hard. But, as the old saying goes, “it’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s how you choose to get back up.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these cards today and hope they bring a ray of sunshine to your week!

There is nothing I can say about this Dragon Card, except that it is gorgeous!

Monday #Motivation #Meditation #TarotReading

Published on by Jan Sikes29 Comments

Welcome to another start to a new work week. It is my hope that you find some inspiration to lift you as you begin. I loved these words of wisdom from Sue Vincent. They struck a chord with me.

The Eyes of others may see beyond the insecurities that keep us blind to ourselves. A quote from Sue Vincent. Meme created by Jan Sikes

Our meditation this week is all about the practice of gratitude. Enjoy!

And now for our message from the Tarot cards for the upcoming week.

Tarot Card reading by Jan Sikes for week of April 19, 2021.
Tarot Card Reading by Jan Sikes 4-19-21

The King of Swords is a powerfully energetic card, as are the three cards which follow him. The suit of Swords represents the intellect. Being the highest card in the suit, the King is a symbol of intellectual power and authority and has the courage and acumen to achieve all that he desires. He indicates the opportunity for clarity and an objective point of view. He can also represent a person of authority that you might call on for expert advice.

The Wands are representative of our spirituality, intuition and creativity. The Ace is always some new beginning, new idea, new inspiration or new project. Just look at the force with which the hand is protruding through the cloud to bring an enlightened vision or idea. The Eight of Wands is all about movement. There is no standing still! It is a dynamic high-energy card pushing you forward with the idea the Ace brings. You can expect to be very busy. 🙂 Determine what you want to manifest and then align all of your resources and energy to focus on that singular goal. Remove all distractions and devote yourself to the task with total concentration, determination and will. This experience can be highly productive, allowing you to accomplish a lot in a short time.

There you go! Make this week productive, positive and filled with clarity!

See you next week!

F.E.A.R.

Published on by Jan Sikes21 Comments

Fear concept with word eraser and pencil on white background

Just last weekend, I attended an Author’s Marketing Event. There were so many interesting, informative and educational workshops and I learned lots.

But, one workshop, in particular, started off with the letters above.

F alse

E vidence

A ppearing

R eal

That gave me pause. How many times do our fears (false evidence appearing real) stop us in our tracks? We can imagine failure before we even embark on a quest. So, this thought came to mind. What if we could immediately erase “fear” (cancel, clear, delete) and replace it with a positive vision? I personally think that would change our entire gameplan. Just the incredible energy of switching one thought is extremely powerful and produces results.

We’ve all been programmed to think and act a certain way. We have filters that we view through. Not all of these are bad. Some are extremely beneficial and positive. But, anytime we let even the tiniest bit of negativity in, a seed is planted and grows like a proverbial weed.

So, I thought about a few ways to turn “fear” (false evidence appearing real) into “FEAR” (Fearless Eager Approach Reward).

Finding a quiet space of solitude to do some meditation is first and foremost the number one most effective way to release fear and gain a different perspective. There are some excellent guided meditations on YouTube. If you are a beginner, search for the ones that say “beginner meditations.” Of course, it would be wonderful if we all had our own private beach for practicing meditation, but the truth is most of us don’t. And you don’t have to sit in the cross-legged position on the floor to do meditation. You can practice that quietness sitting in a chair or lying on your bed. It doesn’t matter. The importance is going within and letting your own sweet soul help you gain a more open and more positive perspective.

Meditation_Beach

Take a step back and look more objectively at whatever is causing fear.

Kitty Lion

Listen to some uplifting music. Music is an excellent way to raise our vibration.

Music_Uplifting

Get outside in nature and reflect on the reality of what is causing fear.

Nature

It has been said that the opposite of fear is acceptance. There is a nugget of truth in that. Find what works for you, but most of all, don’t let FEAR cripple you and keep you from going for that pot of gold or rainbow.

There are approximately 3,600 books published per day in the United State. That’s a heck of a lot of books!

But, there will NOT be one book exactly like the one you write. Organizations can often be helpful in the entire frightening process of publishing your first book and I’ve listed some of the ones I know to be excellent below.

What do you do when you find yourself dealing with the fear of moving forward? I’d love for you to share your experiences, including any organizations that you’ve found to be supportive and helpful.

RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AUTHORS

THE ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT AUTHORS

Take time to research active writing groups in your area. They can be invaluable for feedback and critique.

LIST OF WRITING GROUPS

Footprint

Published on by Jan Sikes39 Comments

footprint

Everyone’s footprint, like their fingerprint, is unique and individual. Today, I was talking with a friend about famous singers and how ofttimes, their children try to fill their shoes.  For instance, more than one of Merle Haggard’s children have tried to break into music without their father’s degree of success. Another example is Shooter Jennings, who is a great artist in his own right, but not of the caliber his father, Waylon was.

In the course of our conversation, these words came out of my mouth and were so profound that I had to share. I said, “No one can walk in the exact same footprint as another person. We have to make our own footprints in life.”

The more I thought about it, the deeper it got.

As an author, I have at times doubted whether I have anything to contribute that hasn’t already been done. The old saying, “There is nothing new under the sun,” comes to mind.

But, when I think about it from the context of my quote, it all changes. No one can tell a story exactly the same way I can. You could take one hundred people, give them all the same subject title and you would get one hundred different stories. That is because we are all different. We view the world through unique lenses and no two are alike.

In the middle of writing this post, I received an email from a dear friend who is a psychic medium. She said she had a message from the Angels. Here was the message: “I asked my own Angels if they had an affirmation to share with you today. Their answer is that your unique self is special and enough, don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. ”

I swear you can’t make this stuff up. Obviously, some of are needing to hear this.

So, if you ever think that you may not have anything to offer this congested world, think again. You do!

You have your own footprint to make. Be brave, bold and sure and move forward with your dreams, goals, and ambitions. Even if it’s been done thousands of times over,  it has not been done like you can do it.

To celebrate April – National Poetry Month I give you this food for thought.

Make your own footprint

Wherever you roam

Whether near or far

Let your dreams be known

The race is one of endurance

Not merely a sprint

Be bold and brave with assurance

That none can copy your footprint.

Happy Footprinting!!

beingyourselfquote-299

 

 

 

LOVE – THE BEAT GOES ON – Lynda Filler #BookReview

Published on by Jan Sikes39 Comments

5 star

IF I COULD GIVE THIS BOOK 10 STARS, I WOULD!!

Love The Beat Goes On

THE BLURB:

When your cardiologist tells you to “Get your affairs in order, your heart condition is incurable,” what do you do?
Lynda shares her personal story in the typical fast-paced, edgy, in-your-face style she’s known for in her writing. She will walk you through her journey to self-love sharing her belief in journals, love, prayer, soul, spirituality and positive mindset.
She’s hard-hitting but compassionate. She writes about romantic experiences that may shock you, but makes no apologies for her unconventional life style. Nor does she hold back taking responsibility for the things that she believes created her dis-ease.

You will definitely question a woman who walks around in denial; then makes a decision to drive, all alone, from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Whistler, Canada with undiagnosed Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Men and women are often self-care-challenged and Lynda was no the exception.

If you are fighting any kind of illness or dis-ease, you are not alone! Lynda has walked her talk, and after an experience in the summer of 2015 relating to Dr. Wayne Dyer, she is now ready to release her story

Lynda knows how it feels to be told you’re not healing or your condition is incurable. At no point will she undermine anything your physicians tell you to do. She is not a medical doctor. She will explain the powerful, yet simple concepts, beliefs, balance and faith that she believes led to her healing. Most of all, she will show you how she used these simple principles to design and live, the fully healed life she now enjoys in 2017.

You will shake your head in wonder, laugh, and maybe cry too. If you want less pain, worry, and stress about dis-ease and life in general, you will want to read this simple yet powerful story.

MY REVIEW:

I have read a lot of new-age books over the years and got something good from each of them, but this book by Lynda Filler is amazing. Her honesty about the journey from receiving a death sentence for an incurable disease to healing in a rainstorm while a Shaman beat on his drum is not just compelling, but astounding.

I loved every fragment of this story. She takes the reader through the full gamut of emotions while she seeks to heal her diseased heart for which the doctors had no cure. But, the lessons she learns, the incredible experiences she has, are inspired and inspiring.

I highly recommend Love The Beat Goes On to anyone who is seeking a higher level of consciousness, whether you are sick or healthy. Also, the resources she lists at the end of the book are invaluable. I have listened to some of the Shamanic healing videos by Akal (her Shaman guide in Sedona) and they take me instantly into a state of peace, of bliss. This is a book every human should read and take away the lessons given. If I could give it ten stars, I would. It’s that good.

 

Lynda Filler
Lynda Filler

 

“The author’s style is reminiscent of CLIVE CUSSLER, LEE CHILDS or BALDACCI.” N. Huff

Lynda Filler makes her home in sexy, sultry Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and writes both novellas, fiction, and non-fiction. She’s been accused of writing autobiographical stories, but so far no can get her to admit it! She’s been writing her whole life but only started publishing with the encouragement of NYT/USA Best Selling author Russell Blake of the popular JET series. When she is not in Mexico, she travels to the Pacific Northwest or Paris, France to visit her children. She loves to hear from her fans on FaceBook where you can find book news, crazy fun quotes, and photographs of both Mexico and Lynda’s travels.

TWITTER         FACEBOOK     BLOG    BOOKS ON AMAZON

Lynda Filler is a member of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB

A Lady Who Walked her Talk #RRBC – Kathryn Treat

Published on by Jan Sikes2 Comments

Once in a great while, someone comes along in life who is unforgettably kind, compassionate and giving. For the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB, that woman was the late Kathryn Treat.

kathryn_treat

Kathryn was an honorary board member of the Rave Reviews Book Club, where she served as Membership Director from Dec. 2013, until September, 2014.  Kathryn is the author of “ALLERGIC TO LIFE:  MY BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL, COURAGE AND HOPE”  .  She inspired and encouraged many with this book so if you have not had the pleasure of reading it, please head to Amazon and get your copy.  

allergic_to_life

The RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is dedicated to honoring Kathryn as “she was one of the most supportive members we had…not just to one, but to all.”

Join us in celebrating Kathryn’s life today and pick up a copy of her inspirational book. In her own words, it is the story of her battle for survival, courage and hope! Click here to order!

For more information about Kathryn Chastain Treat and why we honor her, click here!

Curious about the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB? It is a community of writers and readers who support, encourage, promote and propel each other! Sound like a good fit for you? If you join , please tell them Jan Sikes sent you!