Why Retreats are food for the Soul

In June or September each year I have been running my Angels Abroad retreat in West Crete. I always enjoy it.  I always learn from it. I meet wonderful people some of whom are new to me and others are old friends. But the main thing about these retreats is the experience of sharing spiritual growth and healing. For the teacher or facilitator the weeks contain hours of preparation and planning, which when done successfully come across as relaxed and easy going... after all everyone is on holiday aren't they?

People come along with different needs and expectations. For some the whole idea of a retreat, or a spiritual holiday is new. Many participants, over the years, have brought pain to be healed, dis-ease to be addressed and issues that need releasing. In the safe space, relaxed atmosphere and expert guidance of a retreat we can look within ourselves with more clarity, more depth and hopefully more honesty.
Without exception I can honestly say that over the twelve years I have been teaching lovely people on my Angel retreat in Crete (and sometimes twice a year) I have always deepened my own growth and understanding while supporting others along their own self discovery. After all, as I keep saying: 'the teacher often teaches what the teacher needs to learn'!

This year was no exception and I had some amazing spiritually uplifting moments while we were visiting the sacred caves of the hermits and sacred areas in the rocks which have now been built into churches. In one beautiful modern church I was standing under the light of the stained glass window and felt a powerful presence which was overwhelming.  When my friend Juliet showed me the photo she had taken we remarked on how the green light had fallen across my heart chakra and the red light towards the sacral and root.  Quite a powerful healing gift I would say!
Others felt something similar and many of the group either sat silently, not wanting to leave, or wandered between the icons with tears in their eyes. There was something special happening throughout the morning, which although we could not explain in words, we all felt in individual ways.

Group retreats are always different. Dynamics can change depending on the character and personality of each of the participants, but whether peaceful, challenging, demure or hilarious each retreat is always another step towards our spiritual goal... and always, without exception, nourishment for the soul.

So, just what is 'karma' to you and me?

Having experienced many challenges (haven't most of us?) during my current lifetime, as a younger person I would question what kind of life I must have led in the past to be going through so much angst in this one! It has been only during the last twenty years that the understanding of 'co-creating' your reality has begun to really sink in. Even now I sometimes step back and reflect on whether I truly understand the process of karma... the idea that perhaps lessons or patterns from one life time can be brought into another. I certainly notice 'instant karma' happening all around me in this life time. Actions of kindness or otherwise coming bouncing back. The concept of actually creating our on-going life experiences and the phrases: 'do as you would be done by' and  'you reap what you sow' actually begin to make sense. I believe only as we waken to our full conscious self, becoming more spiritually mature, can we put the understanding into practice. And that can be at any age not just old age!

Why is it that some people just don't get it? Our thoughts and our words, our actions (however good or bad) effect other people. We even use the terminology in our language, 'what goes around comes around". Like boomerangs... they return to us and if they don't hit us on the head may whistle closely by our ears and make us jump! We know this. It can hurt.

For a long time I have been teaching the idea that 'energy follows thought'. The understanding of how potent our thoughts are, that just as we create positive experiences and happy times when we give positive energy to our day to day activities, our negative thoughts, expressions and actions do exactly the same.
When arguments are going on around us, or if we become involved too, we do not have to be psychic to feel positive or negative 'vibes' from people, it is in the air! Just as our blessings, our love, compassion and positive energy is also picked up by others too. None of us are perfect (and goodness knows I certainly have a long way to go!) but as soon as we become aware that we are judging unfairly, using negative or derogatory language, or acting in an unjust manner to someone.... let's make a determined effort to stop.

The archangel Zadkiel, and the Ascended Master Saint Germaine have given us one of the most powerful tools for transforming negative thought into positive energy: The Violet Flame. By imagining a beautiful violet light, or flame, surrounding us with healing transformative energy and then really allowing ourselves to let go of our negative thoughts, we can move into a much more positive frame of mind. Often we also feel much lighter and the negative situation we found ourselves in becomes easier and clearer to resolve.Particularly if we are also able to transcend the negative behaviour patterns and accept the situation/challenge as a gift, a catalyst offering us the chance to change.

When I had my own 'epiphany' and started running workshops to teach others how to connect with their angels I was so very happy that I sent loving thoughts to everyone I passed by in the street. I would travel on London's underground silently sending love to everyone in the carriage, then throughout the whole train, then on each platform as I travelled through town. The more I sent loving blessings to everyone, the happier I felt. That was a long time ago, and I no longer travel on the underground very often. But I do have to sit in traffic jams on motorways, and sometimes I like to do the same exercise through the line of waiting cars.

I have just recently had a birthday, and a good friend bought me a book I have been waiting to read. The Gentle Art of Blessing by Pierre Pradervand. I've been re-visiting the art of blessing others as part of my  daily spiritual practice and even while I sit doing my work. I have to admit it has given me a huge surge of renewed positive energy!

All the great teachers throughout our world religions have taught us to bless our enemies, to offer loving kindness and compassion even to those who may wish us harm. Our loving thoughts are a thousand times more powerful. By blessing and wishing others well we all have the opportunity to raise our vibration, to heal situations, challenging behaviour and our health. Let's get blessing... if nothing else it's going to create good karma!

My love and blessings in abundance to everyone,
Chrissie

Love-hearts, Pancakes & Lent

For some reason, and possibly because it can be wet, dark and dismal, February has been considered a dreary month. It certainly frequently brings the snow to either inspire us with sheer white sparkling beauty, or chill us through, but love it or hate it snow is hardly boring, and very bright. In our village the snow brought out faces I don't think I'd ever seen before. Families were out with sledges, people were clearing footpaths and shovels were swinging all over the place! A real sense of good hearted community spirit was shared.

Valentine's Day greets us in the middle of the month flooding the shops with pink and red love-hearts hoping to remind us not to forget to send roses and sweet words to those we love. We may have forgotten the origins of Saint Valentine's, when a young maiden may have seen the face of her future husband in the mirror, and to cynics it's rather commercial, but to the romantic it warms the cockles of our heart. Whether we want to express our love in card form or otherwise it is a perfect opportunity to remember that the words 'I love you' are so very important. Love is the most important driving force in human beings. I believe it always as been, as this quote from scriptures from the Essenes, written over two thousand years ago shows: "...For without Love, a man's heart is parched and cracked as the bottom of a dry well, and his words are empty as a hollow gourd. But loving words are as a honeycomb sweet to the soul; loving words in a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of love as a flowing brook. By this we know the Children of Light: as those who walk with the Angel of Love".... Seen as a Divine virtue shared by God and the angels then, and I hope it always will be.

Then how can we forget Shrove Tuesday, a delightful day of batter mix and pancake tossing. Golden pancakes in all shapes and sizes consumed by the plate load, laced with sugar and dripping with lemon juice. Possibly followed by the reluctant deprivation of chocolate, biscuits or other goodies, for Lent.
I think most of us remember the pancakes on Shrove Tuesday part. But I wonder if we all remember, or even know, the Christian ritual of Lent, of clearing out the larder, so that they could live on less until Easter... of giving something up and focus on 'not having' something for the sake of faith.

Many years ago I joined in a month of spiritual practices with a group from the local church where I lived in London's East End. Each week we chose a topic of focus rather than give up chocolate , biscuits or alcohol. We decided to concentrate on four themes, one for each week. These were inner peace, kindness, meditation, and letting go of grudges held against others. It seems to me that it may have been a little more meaningful to me at the time than giving up a few biscuits! I think of it each year. I never give up chocolate for Lent. I always try to focus more on kindness throughout the month though.

Then tailing on the end of the month, last but not least, is the significant extra day of a Leap year when all those poor babies who would otherwise forego a birthday celebration get to enjoy their specialness of having been born on the elusive 29th! And, not forgetting the magic of this traditional day when women get to propose marriage to their lover.

So actually this boring little month of February, is not insignificant in the slightest even though it lies in the heart of the dark days of Winter. Personally I love the snowdrops, the birdsong in the fields as I'm walking with my dog on frosty cold day, choosing a Valentine card with just the right words.... and celebrating the birthday each year of my lovely daughter. Yes I do believe February has quite a lot going for it after all.

With all my Love, Chrissie

Struck by Lightening

Hi, Do you read lots of wonderful spiritual books, take courses, download uplifting messages, learn therapies and still feel occasionally that you are not quite up to the mark? So do I. I often joke with other spiritual teachers and colleagues about that one great fear within most of us as human beings, aware of our frailties and faults, is that one day we will be 'found out'... and that the world will see that actually we know very little.

Here in this little picture of the angel of knowledge, you are urged not to believe everything as true, but to take only the inspiration and enlightened words from the books you read and allow the wisdom of your own discernment to take from it that which is true for you, and your own soul resonance.

I recently woke with a channelled confirmation that what I have been noticing around me for the last couple of years is undoubtably true. Not only is everything quickening, speed of life, instant communication, the Earth's revolutions, ... but also our psychic awareness is sharpening so rapidly now, on a mega-scale. Given the right practices I honestly believe that humanity will be able to communicate telepathically between dimensions (as we used to many many lifetimes ago), ... perhaps even within my current lifetime! How exciting.

But I want to share with you a recent mystical and enlightening revelation.
First I need to explain that since the late '90s my entire teaching & writing career has been driven by inspired thoughts and what I believe to be Divine guidance. At the same time unintentionally, as with all teachers, I have been developing and enhancing my personal self-discovery and growth. I do believe that all of us are remembering and developing those aspects of Divinity we seem to intuitively know on an inexplicably deep level. I've always admitted light-heartedly that 'The teacher teaches what the teacher needs to know'.

Last week was the third in my series of online seminars on the Discovering the Seven Archangels, and we were all concentrating on strengthening and understanding our connection with the Archangel energies of Michael.

(During a healing atunement several years ago, in Crete, I was shown that I work very closely with the two Divine Beings we know as Michael and Jesus. These two Beings create the over-lighting presence I feel at the start of most of my workshops and talks, and although I cannot usually 'see' them myself are very often reported by clairvoyant members of the audience.....)

About half way through the seminar I began to feel the unmistakable presence of an over-lighting energy which was filling my body causing me to sway slightly. Certain aspects of the talk I had planned changed in emphasis and I found it extraordinarily difficult to concentrate because everything was surrounded in light and strangely I seemed to be growing in size! Yes, it was difficult to sleep. The next morning I still carried the energy and light from the previous evening and in the early morning light I lit my usual meditation candle only to find that I couldn't sit on the chair. I had the uncontrollable urge to stand with my feet apart and hands raised at my sides with palms facing upwards... I had no thoughts, my usual prayers and morning communion with the angels was completely taken over by the sensation burning through my body as I seemed to grow ten, twenty, forty feet high. Easily as tall as the massive conifer outside my window. I realised that I was being shown, as a physical experience, what I must teach next. In order to step up to the mark and into the Light we have to 'Be' the Light, step into it, allow it to completely enfold us, and as we absorb it into our essence we become at one with the Divine, the angels, the Oneness, the All that Is.....and within that fraction of a second within the Light of our being we will receive all the guidance, all the love, and the healing, all the wisdom, joy and peace there is available to us. From God.

In that moment of communion within the Light I heard no verbal message of wisdom, no music filled my ears, no healing vibration coursed through my hands, yet I absolutely recognised what I as being given.... and all I had to do was let go and trust.

Now all I need to do is pass this message on..... hm, now where do I start with that? Wish me luck!


Lots all my love, and angel blessings
Chrissie, xxx

Happy New Year!

Well here we are on the brink of the most talked about year since we tipped into the new millennium.

During 2011 we have had dynamic discussions, scary suppositions, pie-in-the-sky predictions, an assortment of assumptions and dreary deductions. We've heard Mayan mathematical mumblings, archangel channellings, and mystical imaginings. Yet, in reality (that's in my own illusion of reality you understand) no-one can accurately predict what is about to happen in 2012, except for the items currently in the news and that happens to be in the mundane, material and far from mystical world of the media, and of course the Olympics!

One thing I do know however, is that in my world, my illusional reality, everything has speeded up. I feel a sense of urgency, a slightly uneasy quickening. My life has moved into an even faster pace and I'm not sure whether I find it exciting or daunting - if I'm being truly honest!

I feel there is truth in the suggestion that 2012 (particularly 21/12/2012) completes a grid- a mathematical grid - which enables our entire planetary system and all it's sentient inhabitants to raise consciousness, and yet I see such polarity in our humanity that I struggle to maintain a sense of inner peace and joy. I'm not miserable, don't misunderstand me, I haven't lost my sense of humour and my heart is filled with compassion and the unquenchable desire to learn, serve and co-create a paradise (possibly lost, possibly not yet found) here on Earth. As I write this and the gorgeous pink and purple sunset appears through my office window on the very last eve of the year, I not only feel connected to what I call both worlds ( that of the Earthly Mother and the planet and also of the Divine and the angelic realms)... I am inspired to look closer at the ways I can move forward and really step up to the mark. I am urged to make a difference, and that must start with me!

Rather than fill my head with New Year resolutions (which I may or may not be able to keep) e.g. trying to be tidier, more organised, keep to the diary, lose a little weight, join a fitness regime, eat less chocolate, drink less alcohol and coffee, and so on... I think I'm going to make a real attempt to work harder on really letting go of painful memories, of trulyforgiving those who wound me, and practice with more complete awarenessthose aspects of spirituality I am teaching others.

Helping others is a wonderful gift, especially when it is how one makes a living. How much more effective we would all be if we realized and fully understood in our humanness the implications of what we have 'signed up' for, at a soul level. In my case I often laugh with my closest associates that 'the teacher teaches what the teacher needs to learn'.

We have 23 days until the new moon. Those who work with the moon energies understand that the waning moon is the best and most effective time to 'let go' of issues, doubts and bad habits. Those who work with angels know that Gabriel is the angel of the moon. Let's call in Gabriel, Archangel of communication, peace, joy, co-creation and new beginnings ... to help us with our shadows... to help us to let go over the next three weeks, so that the strength and resolve we need to really make the difference we long to see in the world will begin to happen with each of us individually by the New Moon at the 23rd of January.

As the sun goes down on the end of another year, and as the moon wanes and takes with her the 'old'... what will you let go of?
How will you step up to the mark for 2012? You and I might not be Olympians, but let's be champions anyway!

I wish you everything you wish for yourself in the coming New Year. May the vibration of 2012 enable wise and compassionate choices in your life, may you feel, give and receive all the love your heart will hold, and may you be a leading light in whatever Divine plan is about to unfold.

With all my love,
Happy New Year!

Chrissie

Up to Speed

So much happened last month that my feet hardly touched the ground!
The most memorable has to be the Glastonbury 11-11-11 retreat, where 33 of us joined for an event which was A-maz-ing!

Having created a sacred space on land where there is an energy portal we ceremoniously let go and detached from unhelpful patterns to welcome and create space in our energy bodies for a higher vibration; we followed the Michael & Mary ley lines to the intersection where everyone in the group spontaneously stood in a circle and chanted 'Aums' which echoed and reverberated all around Glastonbury Abbey ruins; we held a beautiful candle lighting ceremony to the angels of Peace, Joy, Love, Service and Power; followed by a silent meal by candle light where we all wore white. If that wasn't enough we had a wonderful past life meditation ( in which I saw myself swimming with whales) and as a group transformed and lifted our conscious awareness to a higher level, assisted and guided by a whole team of angelic beings (photographed as orbs of different sizes all around the room).

One of the ceremonies we performed on the gardens at the Abbey House called in the Archangels Metatron, Sandolphon, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel & Uriel and the elements of air, water, fire, earth and ether. We called for the elementals of the land and trees, and blessings of the Earthly Mother & Heavenly Father as we connected bodily in a symbolic gesture stretching our arms outwards as we connected with the constellations and the stations or sefiroth of the Kabbala. Just as we finished our ceremony with Peter saying the Lord's prayer in Aramaic we had magically synchronised with the ringing of the church bells and sound of The Last Post playing in the Market Square. It was an incredibly moving experience... settled only by a mass of hugs! What a weekend to remember.

Do you hear the Call? 11-11-11

Warm Greetings to Everyone,

Can you feel the buzz, the excitement, the sense of urgency? People all over the world are feeling a stir in their heart. It's is amazing how a few numbers stirs such a reaction. Why are we more excited about this particular year than any other, even a remembrance day some may ask? The answer is that we are being called to move from our small selves into our true Divine self.

The number 11 in Pythagorean numerology denotes mastery of the primary number One, which represents the 'Will of God'. When there are three of anything, there is an emphasis which becomes deeply spiritual in nature. Whether it is people - as in prayer triangles (representing the Holy Trinity), numbers, letters, sounds, prayers or chants everything repeated three times creates a mystical quality, even magical. Imagine the power being created energetically by repeating the Master number 11 three times on one day! Even if you don't buy into the numerology itself the excitement being passed on from person to person is creating a wave of energy which builds the enthusiasm within us to open our hearts and minds to endless possibilities of change and transformation.

We are urgently being called. By the angelic realms, by the Masters, by Universal and Cosmic energies that many do not yet understand, to raise our vibration. Not only our personal vibration but that of the whole of humanity. We are being called to change, to step up to the mark, to make a difference, to become the true Beings of Love and Light we really are.

There are some beautiful channelled writings, in particularly from Patricia Cota-Robles (www.eraofpeace.org) which many of you will have already seen, (and if not do take a look at her web site) and I don't intend to add or duplicate these. In brief they describe the grid which runs across the Earth, rather like the meridians in acupuncture, and as many organizations and groups gather in prayer and meditation on this special day we have the opportunity to create centres of concentrated energy, portals which will open, anchoring the Light all over our planet.

Even if you are unable to join a group physically because of other work or family commitments I would like to invite everyone to stop for a while, if not at at 11 am then some point on the 11th, tomorrow, whatever you are doing.

You do not have to take part in a group ceremony to make a difference. Breathe deeply, tune in to your inner calm self, and whether you feel the connection with the Universe, or God, or nature, the angels, the elements or not - just breathe love into your heart. As you breathe love in and out through your heart perhaps you feel a sense of readiness to offer your self in service to humanity, to God, to the greater good. Hold that thought for a few minutes, however long you like maybe even eleven?
None of us is too small or insignificant to make a difference. By doing so you will be part of something so great it cannot possibly be measured in human terms.

Together let's create a loving desire to co-create a harmonious and peaceful world.

My love and blessings in abundance,

Chrissie xx