This isn't a surprise to you, but 2017 is here. It has been here for a few days and so far, so good. The sun even came out in the Berkshire's today! A January gift for sure just when people were getting a little desperate to see something shimmery.

It really shouldn't surprise us that it is grey here from December to March on most days, however, it does when following a particularly challenging 2016. I don't believe in blaming a year for the issues that come up in our lives. I've heard so many people saying good riddance to the year. That is stunk and it took so many things and people from us. No, no it did not. A year does not have that kind of power, but I can understand how it could feel that way.

2016 in numerology was a 9 year. 9 are endings and in my experience often bring out the level of not being able to take this you know what anymore. Everyone faced endings of some sort in their lives this year. Relationships, jobs, hopefully unsupported habits, homes, and yes, even physical lives. This is natural and we can't really have beginnings without endings. Even with all of this, which happens every year by the way, light shines through.

This last year gave us so many opportunities to show our true selves and people really did. A lot of people saw what needed to be done and stepped up. They saw their own light and allowed it to show others. It was definitely an act of courage if you allowed yourself to see a glimmer of who you are and allowed it to peek out a little too. Good for you. Maybe shining bright didn't happen yet; that is ok, because what follows endings? You've got it; beginnings.

2017 is a one year. Beginnings. Did you just take a nice deep breath? Good job! Now, much like a nine year can't be the reason for all the things that happen; a one year can't either.  You have to get involved in the blessing that is your life. Can you go along and just be pulled by the current? Sure, you can absolutely do that, but then you may not complain about anything in my presence. Can you decide to do something about giving this beginning its due? Of course you can. Act. Act on something to increase the enjoyment of your life.

The energy this year feels so full of excitement. Remember that excitement can often present to our systems as anxiety so check in and feel what you are feeling. I know the last three days I have felt like my stomach was going to flip right out of itself. At first I thought it was a return of that stomach bug that I chose to end 2016 with but it isn't. Phew! Thank goodness, it's excitement! For what? Well, whatever is unfolding in front of me. For some the unknown is a fearful thing but once you realize that everything is a form of unknown until it happens so we are always in the place of not knowing for sure, you get good at going with the flow. The practice of learning to trust in that not known is the real gift to oneself to develop. I highly recommend it.

To be in that trust, you would look to what you already know about yourself and the life skills you have. See? You've got this!

So, this year with all it's excitement is generating momentum for whatever you would like to move forward with. Energy does not discriminate. You can excel if you are willing to participate. There will be a great deal of emphasis on deciphering who is supportive in your life and who may need to exit stage left. For some of us, the last year made this abundantly clear but acting on it will carry into this year. The releasing of relationships can be done with respect for all parties. It's called being an adult and mature. Really focus on this if you find yourself clearing up your inner circle.

As we clean up that circle, the people who are most in alignment with our beliefs, goals, heart and intention will naturally be attracted to us. Sure, it may take some time to manifest this community in the physical and yes, you may have to actually leave your house to meet them, but the energy will be there to help you. Use it!

So, given that everything is fluid, take the next few days and think about what you may have seen come to completion last year and what could be a beginning this year. Also, do some inventory of relationships around you and including with yourself decide if there is anything there that could change for the better this year. Then, what is one thing you could do to contribute to the success of that today. It starts now.

Happy beginnings,
Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

It occurred to me today that I have truly become part of a community. I love the Berkshires and have been comfortable here since we moved to the area eighteen years ago. It is only recently though, that I have allowed myself to form strong connections with more people. I grew up in a small town and in hindsight, had a great time there, but it always felt too small and I can still hyperventilate at the idea that someone will say "Vicki? You are one of the Badore girls aren't you?" I think I have always liked a little anonymity and that doesn't come in a small town with a family of eight kids! :)

When I moved to Massachusetts, I believe I wanted to protect that anonymity and although I have great friends from when I first moved to the area, I kept my circle small. I didn't want to live in what felt like a fishbowl any longer.

Fast forward a few years and I hung my shingle out as an intuitive. Yeah, the irony didn't get past me either. Being known for what I do didn't phase me. It made sense. Being known as Vicki was still a little uncomfortable as I didn't know who I was. I believe it was becoming so comfortable with myself that I was no longer concerned if anyone knew everything about me. I still completely value my private time, but I am an open book otherwise.

The reason it occurred to me that community is a great thing is I attended a service for a friend today. There isn't a superlative in the English language to describe the love I felt in that place. There were over three hundred people there and we came an hour into the calling hours so imagine adding the ones that had paid their respects and left!

I realized as I waited in line that he and his family had touched all these people so much we came out in droves, wrapping around the building down the block, to be in that energy one more time. Let's be honest, services are not for the ones that have passed, they are for the ones in the physical body perhaps as a reassurance that we are still here and also to remember the soul who touched our lives. Dave and his family know how to do community. You could poll anyone in that place and they would have a very specific experience with them. A connective experience. A conscious, very present experience.

It wasn't the number of people who showed up. That's not what made the impression on me. It was the knowing that each person there had felt, heard or seen at some point in their life because this amazing family helps you feel that way. I want to be like them when I grow up. I want to contribute to a world community like that. It isn't about how many people come to your service, it is about the time you took with each person over your life to help them feel like they matter.

I haven't processed all that has impacted me being a part of Dave's journey, but I have had some of these nuggets show up as teachers along the way. I asked Dave before he crossed that when he has the energy space, after visiting all his close friends and loved ones, and writing a manual on how to live and how to cross (because he freaking rocked both!), if he would help me to appreciate life and to live with a bit more compassion that seemed to be a natural part of his being.

Each blog I do has some sort of call to action in it. Today, in honor of the stubborn Irishman, I am going to ask you to be present. To listen to whomever you are visiting with and to take the time to look around and ask if you are creating community wherever you go. I know we are all teachers and students at the same time. It is time for us to learn this and then teach as we go by being living examples of compassion.

Hope to see you in the neighborhood,

Vicki

Did you know you have a built in compass? It has been there all along. As a matter of fact, it was connected to the mother ship when you first landed. Well, the tether was, the compass itself in an internal force. Your compass is your gut knowing. It is conveniently located near the belly button, I believe so we never misplace it!

When we first get here physically, the umbilical cord is cut, releasing us from a physical connection to another and the joining of soul and physical self begins in earnest. It is a very auspicious time as well as precious. Some would say a baby is not knowing of where they are and what is going on. I disagree. I believe when we come in is when we are the most wise. We have just left our non-physical experience and bring all of that source knowledge in, if adults were just willing to listen.

This compass is fully in tact at this time and if nurtured by the community, a fantastic resource and guidance system. Often times though, the compass is reprogrammed by those around us who believe that they know best for us. I am not speaking of the, don't touch that it's hot thing, or the eat your veggies, those are important, I am talking about the be who we want you to be and not what you would like to be programmers. It is not always in a forceful way. Sometimes the messages are so subtle we don't recognize them until we are older and go, hey, that's not how I feel. Not how I feel at all!

This re-birthing, so to speak, of our selves is a great time to get back in touch with that compass and figure out what it is that you really do feel, think, know, want, etc. Sometimes the compass needs cleaning or tweaking a bit, as it's been sitting in a box for however many years since you packed it away when it was easier to follow what you were being told than to forge your own path. Be nice to that compass, sometimes much like the GPS in your car, it has to recalculate!

It can also be a little daunting to ask oneself, what do I really know? What do I want and is it ok to want? Do it anyway, no one else can tell you how you feel or what direction to take any longer....you found out you have a compass...BUILT IN! This doesn't mean you can't ask directions, but you get to decide what you will do with those directions.

The best way I know to connect with this compass is to ask yourself what you feel. If you ask what do I think, your brain is going to jump in with the collective answer. Anyone whom you have ever had an interaction with is going to get a vote in that brain, even if it was a passive one such as watching the news. Asking how do I feel brings it home. It brings it back to that belly button and it allows the answer to be what is in your best interest. Sure, it takes practice being able to hear it, but it is so worth the effort.

By knowing you have this available, you will also turn down the monkey head. The over thinking, over analyzing, over everything processing head. Think of it as giving that monkey head a banana. It will be happy and hopefully take a nap after it eats! Each time you connect with the feeling part of you, you will feel awakened and you will get better and better at recognizing a hungry monkey that just wants a story and not necessarily what is in your best interest. I don't know about you, but I am done with the story of anything. What is happening now and what, if anything, can I do about it? How can I feel the best in my own space and contribute to the world this feeling of greatness?

This shifting from thinking everything to allowing the body to feel and answer you will allow integration of all the systems. Mind, body and soul will be on board and you can make executive decisions from there. It isn't about negating the mind at all, it is about them all playing nicely with each other and to do so, this connection to feeling has to exist.

What does your compass look like? It is an older version with really cool brass on it? It is modern with it's GPS ability and can literally talk to you? Is it very organic and made up of the directions of the Earth? Whatever it is comprised of, start utilizing it more and doing your own navigation. Paying attention to others compasses is only going to get you lost and searching for home base again.

There is a great part of a poem by J.R. R. Tolkien that says "Not all those who wander are lost." Although to my future son in law's dismay, I have not read or seen the Lord of the Ring stories, it is a fantastic line and I have used it often. One of the great things about knowing you have a compass is knowing you are never lost, you are simply where you are until you decide to move in a new direction. Refreshing isn't it?  You can almost feel your thinking head going ahhhhhhhh, that is nice, a break from that ticker tape of confusion.

Give yourself the gift of reconnecting with your compass today. If it needs rebooting, come see me, we will do it together.

Heading due North,

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com