Tag: Spiritual

Do Angels really help us?

Published on by Jan Sikes54 Comments

First, let me give a disclaimer. This is NOT a religious-based post. It is purely personal thoughts, speculation and experience!

Image courtesy of Pixabay

The idea of Angels that watch over us, nudge us, protect us and encourage us is comforting. But is it real or imagined?

I took an Angel Connection boot camp a couple of years ago, and some of the things I learned really stayed with me.

  1. Angels can never interfere with our free will.
  2. It is important to ask for their ideas, support and encouragement when we need it.
  3. Connecting to your Angels is a part of your birthright.
  4. Our Angels can’t tell us what to do but they can inspire us toward a direction. 
  5. High vibrations such as feeling joy and peace, make it easier to connect to the Angelic realm. 
  6. Angels have special designations such as Archangel Michael is known as the protector while Archangel Raphael is the healing angel, etc.
  7. Angels are emissaries of the Divine Mind. 
  8. Angels have been trusted with the mysteries of our Universe from the God Head. 
  9. There are Angelic Alphabets. If you want to specifically petition an Angel for help, you can try using one of these alphabets to write out your petition or prayer. And yes, there are certain Angels associated with the different alphabets, but that would take an entire post to cover.
Enochian Alphabet

Specific Angels are aligned with our Astrological Sun Signs.

  • Libra~Haniel
  • Scorpio~Samael
  • Sagittarius~Sachiel
  • Capricorn~Cassiel
  • Aquarius~Uriel
  • Pisces~Sachiel
  • Aries~Samael
  • Taurus~Haniel
  • Gemini~Raphael
  • Cancer~Gabriel
  • Leo~ Michael
  • Virgo~ Raphael

Interesting, huh?

Author, D.L. Finn, wrote about Angels and how they protected and nudged their human charges in her books, “This Second Chance,” and “The Button.” Of course, these are fiction stories, but I love the idea of Angels watching over us and helping us to make certain decisions that can alter the course of our lives.

Do you ever see a random feather in a place that it wouldn’t normally be? Do you ever see signs around you that make you decide to go a different route or make an entirely different choice? I do, and I see these clearly as Angel nudges or confirmations. I also have a set of Angel Oracle cards that are my go-to when I’m looking for specific answers. If you look on Amazon, there are dozens of Angel Oracle card decks.

But the best way to communicate directly with your Angels is to sit in a quiet space and concentrate on your breath. I also like to light a tea candle and some incense to help raise the vibration around me and invite the Angelic beings into that space. Then I pay attention to ideas or inspirations that come to mind. I’ve never heard a physical voice. It’s always in thoughts or sometimes in outward signs like a message on the side of a truck or on a billboard, as an example. When I pull my Tarot Tuesday cards, I rely solely on the Angels to help me draw the card carrying the message that we all need to hear.

It is my personal belief that we come into this life with a team of Angels and Guides to help us navigate the maze. But, they are not allowed to interfere with our free will. They can only try to gently nudge us in a direction that serves our higher good.

Do you think Angels are with us throughout our lives? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Sedona, Arizona

Published on by Jan Sikes7 Comments

Hi, folks. It’s Wednesday and my normal day to blog, BUT, I am spending the week in Sedona, Arizona. I’m sure I’ll have some real pictures to share once I return, but for now, here’s a stock image to enjoy.

Sedona

It was time to disconnect and recharge my internal batteries, exploring every Spiritual aspect of this beautiful energetic place.

Peace, Love and Angel blessings!

 

The Contract by John Howell & Gwen Plano #RRBC #RWISA

Published on by Jan Sikes58 Comments

It is such an honor to tell you about this new book co-written by fellow RRBC and RWISA members, John Howell and Gwen Plano! Pick up a copy today. I promise you will enjoy it.

The CONTRACT between heaven and earth

By John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano

Thank you, Jan, for inviting us to join you today. We are honored and grateful to be featured on your blog where you have such good writing and music.

The Contract

 

Available on Kindle and Paperback

Kindle priced at $0.99 for the introduction.

The CONTRACT is a different story for writers John W. Howell and Gwen M. Plano. For either of them, it is their first attempt at co-authorship. After a year of Hurricane Harvey and other challenges, they have created, what they have termed, an inspirational thriller that bridges heaven and earth.

Here is the blurb:

The earth is threatened with a catastrophic political event which could result in international warfare and destroy all life on the planet. In heaven, a divine council decides that extraordinary measures are essential. They call for an intervention that involves two souls returning to earth. The chosen two sign a contract that they will work to avert the disaster.

Brad Channing, a Navy SEAL, and Sarah O’Brien, a teacher, become heaven’s representatives on earth. The story follows them as they individually and then together face overwhelming obstacles and eventually end up on a strategic Air Force base in California. It is there that they discover a conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States. The terrorists have a plan for global dominance, and they are determined to complete their mission. Although military leadership appears to have the President’s best interests at heart, it is not clear who can be trusted and who should be feared. The action is rough and tumble as Brad and Sarah try to figure out the culprits for the plot that will turn into a worldwide conflagration unless stopped.

If you enjoy thrillers, this is one with enough twists and adventure to keep you riveted and guessing. If you like your thriller along with a good romance, Brad and Sarah’s initial attraction and eventual love will sustain you as they live out their heavenly and earthly desires.

Trailer

Here is an excerpt.

When they stepped out into the brisk air, Brad wrapped his arm around Sarah and pulled her close. “Will you be warm enough? I have a jacket in the car.”

Sarah didn’t know how to respond. With his arm around her, she felt warm—in fact, a bit more than just warm. Maybe I should accept his jacket, but I don’t want to wear it and give up his arm.

“Sarah?”

“I just thought that it had been a while since a gentleman had his arm around me.” I can’t believe I just said that.

Brad turned to face her, his hands now around her waist, “I hope you like being held close.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes welling. Brad leaned and offered a first kiss. Sarah felt fifteen again, swept off her feet by prince charming.

“If I keep my arm around you, will you be warm enough?”

Sarah beamed. He had reframed his question, and she nodded yes.

Brad smiled. “I thought so.”

Under a street lamp busy with swarming intruders, Brad drew Sarah close, and with tenderness, kissed her. When she relaxed into his arms, Brad took a deep breath in, and his eyes shone wetly as he exhaled. Was he falling in love with her too? It seemed that neither of them wanted the moment to end. Sarah savored Brad’s warmth and strength. It felt so right, so natural, as though he and she had been lovers in times past. This is where I belong, she thought, in his arms.

Authors Bio.

John Howell Head shotGwen's headshot

John began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016. The last, Circumstances of Childhood is a family life thriller story and launched October 2017. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Port Aransas, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

John’s other books.

Available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

Gwen had a lengthy career in higher education, and it was there that she published her first book, Beyond Boundaries, for students interested in volunteer work in developing countries. After she retired, she wrote her award-winning memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love.

Gwen lives in Branson, Missouri with her husband.

Gwen’s books.

Available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2wdXsrn

Both John and Gwen are members of the prestigious RAVE WRITERS INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS and THE RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB.

Stillness

Published on by Jan Sikes15 Comments

This post was inspired by Annette Rochelle Aben’s Angel Message today.

Even in complete and total stillness, there is movement.

Stillness

My last post was a story about Willie Nelson, and in the thought of stillness, I’m reminded of his song, “Still is Still Moving to Me.”

“And it’s hard to explain how I feel
It won’t go in words but I know that it’s real
I can be moving or I can be still
But still is still moving me…”

I love to sit in a state of quietness where all I hear is my breath moving in and out. It puts me in mind of the ocean tide – ebbing and flowing.

We find ourselves in a busy and noisy world. There is always some clamor about something or the other – radio, TV, our phones, conversation and on and on.

I live in a big city and from my apartment, I can hear the traffic on the freeway. We learn to tune out certain sounds. Even away from the city, there are noises. It’s just that they are more in synch with our own inner babble and it more often than not, gives us a sense of peace.

So my challenge to you today is to find five minutes – yes only five minutes in a twenty-four hour day – to sit in total and complete stillness. Use earplugs if you need to and just breathe. Ah……feel it? Hear it?

music of stillness

Thank you for participating with me.

As Tina Frisco says, “Namaste.”

 

 

Hawk

Published on by Jan Sikes29 Comments

I live in an apartment complex that sits in the heart of the DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) metroplex. It is one of the largest metroplexes in the state and possibly even the United States.

So, in the midst of all of that, this guy decides to land on my balcony this morning around 7 am. It’s 10:30 and he’s still there.

20170609_072116

A regal creature, I estimate that he measures around 20″ from tip to tail. He just sits and watched every movement below and around him. Occasionally, a mother Mockingbird lands on a railing across from him and fusses at the top of her lungs. He casually ignores her.

While he is a hunter and there are baby rabbits all around the complex, I take his presence to mean something deeper.

At least fifteen years ago or more, I received a gift of Animal Medicine Cards along with a book. I have used it often through life’s ups and downs, seeking guidance and deeper understanding.

Animal_Cards

When I pulled my Animal Totem Cards so many years ago, Hawk was one of my Totem Animals.

So, the fact that he’s here today tells me there is a message.

Here is what I know:

The hawk’s gifts include clear-sightedness, being observant, long distance memory, messages from the universe, guardianship, recalling past lives, courage, wisdom, illumination, seeing the bigger picture, creativity, truth, experience, wise use of opportunities, overcoming problems, magic, focus.

So, as my brother, the Hawk, sits on my balcony, it gives me pause to look inside and search for hidden messages all around me.

I burnt incense and did a meditation to honor this beautiful messenger bird.

incense-1145x532-960x573

What about you? Do you think animals can carry messages from other worlds? Do you have a special connection with an animal that you consider to be spiritual?

Profound and Inspiring #RRBC Book Review

Published on by Jan Sikes19 Comments

LETTING GO INTO PERFECT LOVE By Gwen Plano

letting-go

 

This memoir is one of heartbreak, discovery and inspiration. Gwen Plano takes us with her on a journey back to her childhood and the tragedies that struck the family on to her search for love and a family of her own. Little did she know the abuse that she’d suffer before she found redemption.

Redemption through unorthodox ways and sheer determination brought her through. I loved taking this journey with Gwen and related on so many different levels. From following her husband to Japan in search of truth and enlightenment to the dark depths of abuse that no human should have to tolerate, she had me captured. I cried with her when the abuse reached her children. I cheered for her when she found the strength to walk away.

This is a story that will give anyone on their journey through life something inspiring, something to believe in and something to carry with them. There are so many lines throughout the book that stayed with me. This is only one example of the depth and insight Gwen Plano shares through her own experiences. “Deep within each of us, there is a well of love ­­― a place of wholeness, a place of completeness. This sacred well is alive with wisdom and tenderness.”

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking truth, love and wholeness.

gwenplano

Gwen is a member of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB and a RAVE WAVES Blog Talk Radio host.

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