The first day of the year is a fascinating specimen isn't it? It is both a day of revolution and of reflecting. We've made our way around the sun and have seen another year of how life revolves. I, for one, am a little road weary while remaining grateful that I am here to experience who I am at this moment.

I say at this moment because it really does change from moment to moment. I meet with so many people who are focused on who they want to be and who are running from who they perceive themselves to be. Rarely is someone present enough to be who they are in that moment. Of course we are a compilation of all of our experiences but does that mean we have to carry all that stuff with us everywhere and either be stuck in it or running from it?

Reflection is great and I do believe a great tool for each of us to use, but if you are staring in the mirror with the intent of finding all the issues, I promise you, you will find them and only them. Reflections can be altered by the surface in which you are using to see yourself. Consider a calm lake; if someone throws a rock in and it creates a ripple, there is no longer a flat surface to observe ourselves. Life has ripples. It has some pretty amazing waves sometimes and we can't always reflect in the same place we are when we experience the ripples.

I know I did a fantastic job being present for Howard during his transition journey. I KNOW it, but yet there are times when I question if he knew how much I love him and was I my best self during that time or any time in our marriage for that matter. I know this is part of my process and while I am not always a fan of the feelings, I embrace the fact that I enjoy reflection and am so grateful to be able to realize that if I'm reflecting on something that happened even yesterday, I am looking at it from the place of having dropped the pebble in to create a ripple. I can't ever recreate the situation as it was. I can't have the clear reflection of the moment back. It has passed so I have to be willing to appreciate that I did the best I could with what I had at the time.

This is a challenge for many people. I often have to suggest they leave the billy club that they beat themselves up with in my office and not take it with them any longer. We can't ever go back to where we were. No one else can either so stop expecting them to know how you felt yesterday, last week or a year ago. Get in the game and evolve as we revolve. We can use our lives as mirrors but if we are going to abuse the mirror or criticize it, it will never be a helpful tool.

• What if for this year you reflected on the ripples you experienced this last year and how you could appreciate yourself for being there?
• What if for this year you set the intention of using your personal mirror as a tool to see what you do WELL and how you can enhance that?
• What if for this year you allowed your reflection to show the amazing being it sees whether calm or with ripples?
• What if you accepted that your presence in this life is a gift and reflecting your greatness is what you can gift back?
• What if, just what if, we showed up in the moment, present and willing to see the beauty in each of us? Can you imagine?

I intend for this year to leave my own billy club by the door and not take it with me any longer. As I was preparing the attached info to help you create your own great 2016, I found pictures Howard took on the last trip we made together two weeks before he went in the hospital. At first it was a big ole ripple and hard to look at but then I found a picture he took of me kayaking. I probably should have expected him to be there with the camera but I was in my own world and so present I didn't see him on the dock.

There is a series of pictures of my concentrating on my approach ( I am not known for my grace in paddling into docking stations!). As I looked through the pictures my critic wanted to chime in on how they weren't good pictures, but then I saw the one where I realized he was taking pictures. The look on my face as I realize it's him shows how much I love him and am happy to see him. It is at this moment that I realized if he didn't know how much I loved him at that moment, then he wasn't present and as observant as I gave him credit for and there isn't anything I can do about that now. It was really freeing to have that, thank you Howard and my guides for reflecting in pictures what the greatest meaning of the word can be; showing each other our light and love.

Let's set the intention to show this love this year, for self and then radiate it out. So much so that next year when we reflect we will have to wear shades!

I'm going to get a bigger mirror,

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

Now for some manifesting fun:

The New Year is a great time to affirm what you want to bring into your life and your path. As the year shifts, it allows us an opportunity to focus on our own shifts.

This year encourages us to fly, to use our intuition and to create out of the greatest possibility. Does it get any better? So, I intend for you a year of manifestations that bring all that you feel is in your highest interest. I encourage you to keep in mind to be mindful of what you ask for as you may just get it. Luckily, the stages and shifting of energy continue so we get to do it many times all year!

You can't do anything wrong with the process below so have fun and dream well. 

You may want to print this out, just a thought.

1) Write out a list, (write it out so it has your energy attached) of all those things that you would like to be done with. This can be literal such as clutter in the home, a person in your life, weight, sadness, whatever you would like to not have in your life anymore, write it down.

2) Take this list and wrap it with a red ribbon, yes yarn will work too, any shade of red. Put it aside.

3) Now, take a deep breath and center back in and write all those things or experiences that you would like to bring into your life, such as financial abundance, love, travel, fun etc. Whatever makes your heart sing and roll that up and wrap it with a red ribbon. (Red ribbon is not necessary but does amp it up.)

4) You will take these lists outside, to keep the energy out of your house and to send into the universe, and starting with the one where you let go, burn it, being safe to catch the ashes in a fireproof object. When it completely burns out and there are no embers, blow the ashes out into the universe wishing them well and feeling lighter because you have released all that stuff you have been carrying.

5) Now, take the other list, the one you are wanting to bring to you and burn that as well. You are following up with positive energy and a statement to the universe that you trust. Even if you feel this is silly, it will still work so no worries. Repeat the part about blowing it out into the universe and then take a moment to "see" your life as it will be.

6) Remember to say thank you before going back inside, to the universe but also to yourself for participating in your own journey.

Kids love this ceremony, yup probably because they get to burn things, but also because it makes sense to their energy so have them do the above mentioned process as well. Just be sure to respect their privacy and allow them to write whatever they would like. Teaching them it is ok to ask is a great thing too!

Be safe in your burning and let the manifesting begin!

You know you've had a busy December when several people ask you, "are you going to do your energy report for next year soon?"  Ooops, I forgot that I have even done them every year! Roller coaster anyone?

Well, if 2015 has seemed like one to you, you are not alone.  As I wrote last year, this was going to be the year of in your face. Items avoided were going to pop up their lovely head, issues pushed away were going to rear up and bite you in the other end and relationships that were not serving were going to make an exit stage left.  And did they? In your life if you did not pay attention, did these things happen?  Perhaps they weren't dramatic in their happening but I bet you were aware just the same.

When a friend asked me how I would summarize this year's energy I laughed and said, "WTF?”. I know I felt that way for most of it. I knew all of the experiences were an opportunity but wholly moly, enough of the growing already. Expansion really does hurt sometimes. Not only did the dude complete his contract but many people I considered loved ones and friends exited that stage left and while I now sit in a place of gratitude for the universe helping them leave; it all was a bit much. Grieving a spouse and friend is enough while trying to stay upright. People who professed to care and then showed their true selves, was quite another. I know, I know, I could have read my own blog from last year and known this was going to happen but I have that annoying trait that believes people are actually going to act with heart. I'm learning, I'm learning. (For the record, I am learning to allow people to show me who they really are. I am not going to change the fact I believe we can come from a heart space, because that I know to be true!)

I hope 2015 helped you learn that taking care of things as they reveal themselves is a lot less work then waiting until they pile up. Sort of like the dishes. If you use just one plate, wash it. It feels good to have it done and won't accumulate resentment as you add the glass, bowl and pan to the pile. It also creates a habit of being present and aware of your surroundings. Try it, it really is quite fun after a while.  Anywho, 2015 was the mama bird pushing us out of the nest.  2016 is where we get to fly if we trust our own wings.

Twenty sixteen is the first phase of SHOW YOUR BEAUTIFUL SELF! It's not an official series of years, yet, but that is what I am calling it until it catches on. Every year has its own vibration and as I stated last year, we have been putting in the time and effort to arrive in a place where we can shine and feel great about that. So many of us were taught to dim the light, don't make waves, make everyone happy and all the other well meaning, although energetically discordant, messages. They don't resonate with ourselves and it is time to realize when we believe in self, that energy can multiply and inspire others to believe in themselves. The ripple effect is magnificent. Even the smallest stone can create a ripple.

The behaviors of judgement, hatred, racism, sexism or any other separatism is fading. Sure, we will always have those young souls that are scared by people knowing themselves because they don't know who they are inside, but energy is universal and when it starts to shift, whether someone wants to go or not, they are taken with it. We have a choice of where we float our boat of course, but I promise you, no one is exempt from feeling the waves of spiritual energy that is life force and within all of us.

This is especially true of those who have crossed.  How about a high five for the help they give us from the other side as they do their growing without their human ego?  I am appreciative as it lends to us the pure love we are all striving to learn.  So, even when you miss them, give an expression of gratitude for their continued help, would you?

So, if you were going to trust that you can fly out of that 2015 nest and fly in the energy of 2016, what could you do now that would support that feeling?  Perhaps you could start by realizing that your first flight does not have to be from the top of a great Sequoia tree, maybe a sapling in the front yard is a good start. But go on, what is one thing you would like to change or improve and what is the first step you can take in order to do that?  If this stumps you, reach out and ask for help.  Seek council, ask a friend, go within, come see me, ask your angels, something that helps you identify the subject and then one small flight plan to create movement.

Shining bright is our soul right. Turning on that light is our human responsibility. Turn on your bright self and take flight to wherever it is your heart and soul are leading you. Please do this for yourself and for the universe we share. Let's create a movement of believing in self so much that when someone does something we don't agree with, we observe it but not take it personally. I believe that when one knows themselves and trusts who they are, what others do is their business and lessens the need to compete.

Hey, there is such things as lightning bugs....maybe we can all be lightning birds. Taking flight with our light!

I'll be looking for your light to shine as a beacon!

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

In this world of acronyms and texting language, there are some good ones to be used as reminders of our spacial awareness. I love a good acronym as I feel it helps us like the key that is at the bottom of a map. A shortcut to the place we would like to visit. Today's acronym is MYOB.

MYOB is mind your own business. Now most would probably see this as a directive to someone telling them to stay out of your stuff but I prefer to use it as a self directed tool. Whenever I feel like I am encroaching on someones space or free will, I will remind myself to MYOB, Vicki. (Again, talking to self is very healthy.)

Look around you and see how many people are so invested in those around them that they aren't even living their own lives. Look to social media to see that very quickly. I love social media but come on, the Kardashians are not our lives, unless you are one, nor are the sports teams or whomever made the MSN ticker today. Your life is the one right in front of you. It is the one you are in and the only one you have for right now so do you really want to spend it paying attention to what someone else is doing?

Last night we had a little action in the neighborhood and while I am grateful the police are present and cleaning up our section of town, I don't need to know what is going on. My husband on the other hand would be right in the middle of it if he could. This is no secret in our house. We are very different when it comes to the neighborhood watch. While a little bit of awareness is great, I don't want to leak my energy to those that may or may not, be following the letter of the law. (ok, so when they were mean to their dog I was on the phone immediately. I'm not obtuse, I am choosy about where I put my attention.)

So, where are you watching the neighborhood and not your own yard?

• Do you compare yourself to others? (Their yard/life is not better than yours. It is theirs and yours is yours. Pay attention to yours and you'll be amazed how good it can be.)
• Do you get upset when another practitioner/business/craftsman offers a similar service or seems to be competition? (Someone pointed out to me this week that another person was offering a similar service I do. I told them that was none of my business and I didn't own the copyright to get togethers'. I wished them well and shut down the conversation.)
• Do you think one of your siblings was always your parents favorite? (Maybe they were. So what? Be your own favorite person as a grown up. Childhood should not run the life you have now.)
• Do you get involved in other peoples relationships? (I am of the firm belief there should only be two people in a relationship. The two in it. No one else gets a say nor should be involved. Have a relationship with each person, but not the relationship itself. Thank you to my awesome client who said I could use that line from her session!)

And, how could you pay attention to your own yard? 

• Is there a class you have always wanted to take? An advancement of your learning in any way? (Be willing to be bold enough to hear what your inner wisdom is telling you. Listen!)
• Is there some way you have always wanted to give back but have held back for fear someone wouldn't want your services? (It's amazing how good it feels to help another when you come from a place of authenticity and realizing that giving feels good!)
• What area of your life could use a little attention right now. Do a little inventory at home first before looking outside. (Ask yourself, what DO I want in life anyway? If the answer is tough to come by, come see me. I will help.)

I'd like to offer another perception of the MYOB. What if it became Mind Your Own Brilliance? What if you were so good at minding your own business it strengthened your own light and you became a beacon of greatness for self? Just imagine how fun that could be. Then all the great lights could get together and shine some healing on this planet and universe. 

What if minding your own brilliance became a movement and we all did just that and taught others that feeling good is contagious and doesn't take away from another when we feel this way? I know we as humans have this potential. I believe in our brilliance. 

Have some fun with the brilliance in you and please let me know how you increase your light. Let's support each other and have some great ideas flowing around, shall we? 

Minding my brilliance until everyone needs sunglasses to be near me, 

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

For some reason, this year's solstice seems to be greatly needed by many whether they realize it or not. For those of us experiencing the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, it signifies a shift to longer days and the offer of more light. Now, we go through this EVERY YEAR so why is this one the most challenging? My feeling is it is because we are entering the energy of 2015, the year of fruition. The culmination of whatever you have put into place in the last few years so energetically, we are perceiving this coming and perhaps getting antsy. More on this in a later post but it is a really good thing. YAY! 

The solstice, as experienced in the Northern Hemisphere, is happening December 21st at 6:03 EST. Often, it is celebrated with ritual as it is the return to light and the giver of life. Little by little, the days will get longer leading up to the Summer Solstice.

I believe the days leading up to the shift can be best served by taking a little inventory of self and what could perhaps use a little light. There is a tendency to want to rush right through the darker days and not appreciate what they have to offer. Dark is not bad, it is where brilliance may actually lie if you would listen and realize you won't get stuck there if your intention is to bring light to whatever you find. It also offers the balance of yin to the lights yang. Personally, I can not sleep in a room where there is light, so to the dark I say thank you. Thank you for the sleep that is necessary to reboot my system! 

We are very fortunate to live in a region where we have seasons. I believe we could honor all of them and in doing so, find a balance in our joy factor of life! 

If you want to enter into this transition into 2015 with a clear energy, I would suggest you consider smudging your home, car and work space if possible. Smudging is the practice of using sage to clear a space. There are many beliefs about how best to do this. I tend to go to the less is more place. One, acquire some sage from a metaphysical, health or online store. Light the bundle and ask for your team to help you clear the space. I then ask for anything that is not of the light, to go to the light. This can be any energy left from arguments that happened, illness or generally cranky energy. Be sure to open a door, window and use exhaust fans if you have them. You want the energy to travel out of the house. To not ventilate will cause the energy to stir up and add to whatever was going on when you first started to clear. After you finish going around your entire space, be sure the sage is out and enjoy your cleansed space. 

Another great thing to do on any solstice or full moon is to create a list of what you would like to release. They can be emotional, physical or spiritual. Anything that comes to you about what could be ready to go. Write it down, wrap it with red string (This is not a big deal if you use another color. Intention is much more important than supplies.) then burn it and send the energy out into the universe to be released. If possible, please do this safely and outside. If this is not possible due to restrictions or laws, you can burn inside but afterwards, remove the ashes from the home immediately after they cool. If you really can't burn, a shredder works well too just be sure to remove the shreds immediately as well.

Give yourself the gift of appreciating the long night and the allow yourself time to spend in silence. Tap into what is in your head and heart. Connect to the heart and know this is your true GPS system that offers balance much like the solstices do. Trust that the brilliance of the earth is within you too. A balance of light and dark, noise and silence, physical and non-physical. A beautiful compilation of winter and summer meant to be eased into with fall and spring. Be easy with yourself as we travel into a new year. Take that inventory and be sure to appreciate the good moments too. 

Leaving the headlamp off and wrapping myself in the blankey of darkness, 
Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

Once a month I do an event called Share an Evening with Vicki. It is two (or two and a half if I have a hard time stopping...sometimes three...I need help but that's another blog.) hour event where people can attend to receive guidance, messages and this month, stand up comedy!

It was such a fun group that I was even more laid back than normal. It could also have been the prednisone and inhaler I am on, but we will give most of it to the energy of the people there. They were all willing to have fun, share tears and grow. SO STINKING FUN!

There were a lot of gems that came out of the night as I remember the responses but can't remember what came through. One they reminded me of though that I thought, hey, that's rude enough to be a blog, was the vomit discussion. Don't worry, that's as gross as it gets, the description. I didn't have much of a filter that night so the description, while appropriate, is well, gross.

I was talking with a young lady about how she was leaking energy and if she didn't patch a few holes, her health and happiness would be effected even more than it is. See, we all have an energy field and when we fail to recognize that and take care of it, we can get holes from all the demands of our lives and other people in our lives. As I looked at her field, I realized she had a few people in her life that were vomiting energetically on her and she was not only vulnerable, she was inundated with others crap and couldn't hear her own thoughts.

When people spew on us, it feels even heavier to be yourself and you have sadness you just can't connect to anything. One way people energetically relieve themselves is on social media. My goodness, you can just read some of the posts to realize who was just looking to get rid of energy and used the outlet to do it. Then it gets picked up, kind of like the flu virus, and spread because someone responds with "OH NO!" "You should......" "What are you going to do?" "How could someone do that?" etc. All that drama lowers the energy field and creates the exhaustion that so many people are walking around with.

One way to be healthy and not catch or throw energy, is to not pick up that ball when someone tosses out the whining, complaining, or generally ticked off at the world post. Scroll right on by. It doesn't mean you don't care about the person, it means you are not willing to carry their germs. This is true if the person is right in front of you too. Ask the people close to me. It has to be annoying that I won't get mad when they do, but I know it isn't going to solve anything so why go there? If you truly cared, you would call it universal precautions and say, hey, I'm helping both of us to be healthy right now by not keeping the virus going.

Another way is to be healthy yourself. Make sure you can recognize when you are feeling less than and either shake the energy off by exercising, cleaning something, singing, dancing, playing, cooking, stomping your feet or clapping your hands, anything that will help break up energy. Take responsibility for your own feelings and be willing to fumigate if necessary!

You can also make sure your light is lit so if someone else is having a challenge shining theirs, you can help but not take it on. Imagine a flashlight shining from within and emitting a light from you. It will allow you to create an energetically neutral zone as well as show others that being energetically healthy is good!

This is something that is year round happening and there really isn't a shot for it, you have to be willing to do the journey yourself.

So, I thank my November group for some great laughs and material and for the opportunity to share with everyone else! I wish you health in recognizing when someone, or you, may be over sharing. There are times where sharing is not caring you know! We all do it to some extent, but if we can become more aware, we can acknowledge it in the moment and choose to act in a different way.

I know you can do it!

Get those flashlights beaming!

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

With winter approaching in the North East, thoughts have turned to heat sources. There are so many ways to heat a home, gas, electric, pellet, oil, wood, or solar powered. Regardless of how you heat, there has to be a source of ignition. Something creates the start of the heating process, a pilot light so to speak that, spreads the message to the rest of the components that warmth is required.

I believe we, as humans, have a pilot light too. It is our power center that when ignited and well maintained, can charge our life with vitality and excitement. So many people have either lost sight of their own power or have allowed another to snuff out their pilot light. This is a challenge because without that light, so many other systems do not work well.

The power comes from self esteem and a connection to your soul, that eternal part of you that KNOWS you rock!  It comes from what we think and feel about ourselves. Too often the thinking gets in the way of how we feel and creates a real issue with keeping that light lit. Another thing people run into is a disconnect between what they think and feel, so in the terms of heating, the pilot light may be lit but it isn't strong enough to switch on the furnace which leads to a not so warm winter, or a cold feeling towards self.

How is your pilot light? Can you feel even a slight glow of self appreciation? Does it need overhauling or a new one installed? As people, we can't just go to the hardware store and order a new part. We have to be willing to work with the one we have and discover what it takes to light it again. That is why I love my work. I help others to light their light.

If you were to re-light a pilot after it went out, you may need a long match or an aim and flame. Luckily for us, when re-lighting, things rarely blow up so you can get closer! One way to check your pilot light is to ask yourself if you find life fulfilling. Do you find that you look forward to the day or do you dread it? With a burnt out light, it is really challenging to find the excitement of life.

How could you light yourself up this week? Could you meet with a friend for lunch? Get that journal out and start writing again? Organize a closet?  I'm not kidding on the last one. You will be amazed how good you will feel when that linen closet is clean! It isn't just about doing something, it is about connecting to self while you are doing that light you up idea. Get that pilot light lit so you can then heat your life up with joy, purpose and delight in the fact you even have a light within.

So often in spiritual circles you will hear, shine your light and I agree with that but first you have discover that you have one and how to work with it to the best lumination that is you!

If you have a hard time with this, I am here to help with sessions, Belief Re-patterning, coaching or the blend of all three!

Shining my light at the highest wattage possible. :),

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

This last week has been very light filled for me. I started it with Lasik surgery, THAT is very bright, did fifteen sessions and finished it with a retreat of amazing women who were all very bright lights in their own beings. I had a thought while we were in meditation during the retreat that we all have this light within us and often turn it down to not blind others and in doing so get a little light constipated. Yes, this is the brilliance you can have too if you meditate. It's been said that everything in life comes back to poo, I'm starting to believe that it's true, even meditation!

We all have a light body, it is the essence that is our very soul. It is always present, yet often people are hesitant to show it. Perhaps it is because they are just unaware they have a light body to utilize. I feel like one of my roles here on this Earth is to bring that awareness to everyone, helping them realize that they do indeed have a beautiful light within and once it shines out, begins to demonstrate what the real purpose of being here is, love.

The vibration of love is different for everyone and I do believe is without explanation. It is something that just is. We can try to describe it with all of the cards, songs, poems, graffiti written on city walls, and still never really come up with words to eloquently describe it. How do you describe something that is so light filled and resonates at such a level, that it can take your breath away?

This vibration comes in many different frequencies. The light that is love can be the love for self, a partner, a pet, humanity as a whole, or an interest that comes from your very soul. It is as different as each of us are. Each refraction of the light that we have inside of us is a mirror of the love and the potential that we have to shine outside of us. How many lights do you have? Do you know? Do you allow yourself to feel that light and love for whatever it is you are witnessing?

Sometimes this isn't easy. I know I have held myself back for many decades because the depth of the feeling that is there can be overwhelming at times. I have learned to shift that overwhelming to a gratitude. Yes, it may still catch me off guard, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just discovering how many lights I possess. And let me tell you, it is fun!

Today when I stopped by to see my grandchildren, Gavin asked me to wait while he ran inside because he had something to show me. Now he didn't know I was writing this blog, nor would he have cared if he did know. Gavin is his own man. He lives to impress no one. After all he is five! What does he come out with? What was so important that he showed me, was a light sword. The sword was impressive on it's own. But then he touched the button and it became lit up with this wonderful green color. As the sword lit up, so did Gavin. He was so proud of it and as an extension he was allowing his light to beam everywhere. It was truly wonderful to see. Perhaps because I was willing to wait to see the light he had inside the home, I was gifted to see the light he had within. He also gave me a fist bump.

Do you have a magic sword? Do you need to find yourself a magic sword? What if this week you took the time to see how many different lights you have in your life? What if you gave yourself the gift to see your light and then you allowed that light to shine from within, blasted from your heart center out around you?  Imagine how wonderful that would feel.

Gavin didn't need to be taught how to shine his light today. He didn't need me to point it out. He knew on some level that if he connected with what his heart found joy in, he could shine his light brilliantly. I'm simply suggesting if a five-year-old is brave enough, aren't you?

I know I'm going to follow his example, take inventory and appreciate every light beam that I am privileged to have shown to me this weekend. Another benefit to this is as soon as you start to see the brightness around you, more brightness shows up. Is that cool?

I wish you a week of discovery, light, love and all the lights swords you can muster up.

Living brilliantly, 

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.- Hal Borland 

As you no doubt know by now, the world did not end but an energy did and for that I am very thankful. The tug of war that 2012 has been for most people is lessening and we are shifting into a much nicer way of being. For the majority of people that I see or communicate with in some way, have had it has been quite the year with a  huge amount of growth with some of it feeling like they were being squeezed through a knot hole backwards. My words, not theirs but I am sure there is a ripple of agreement out there.

I completely adhere to the belief that we all create our own lives and I keep this in mind on a daily basis, including when I am shaking my head at the wave of vibrations moving through that feel like a cattle prod at my backside. The universe is fantastic, vast and held together magnetically and we are some pretty attractive magnets to all of the fascets and whirlygigs that keep us moving forward.

The year of 2012 has been all about here's your lesson, would you like me to smush it in your face? I've had more epiphanies this year than the rest of my time here and I don't believe it is because I walk my talk. It is because the energy has a weird sense of humor and evidently likes me shaking my head and in the words of one of my bestest friends saying, well that was interesting. Of course in this instance interesting really means bleeped up. When things are this mixed up and seemingly in a one after another sequence, sometimes the only thing to do is throw up your hands and surrender.

This is what I did this year. I surrendered to wherever I was meant to be, however I was meant to get there and in whatever shape I arrived. Some of the months it wasn't pretty and I showed up dog tired with very little pep and other months I was invigorated by the potential of my path. That path could simply be the laundry got caught up and I had time to read a novel! You know what happened when I did this? Life got easier. It has less stress and it totally removed that what if I make a mistake thinking. So what? What if I did? At least I tried. One of the quotes I love is by Michael Jordan; "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something but I can't accept not trying."

What if this year you give yourself permission to try something new, something that scares you, something that you feel you have no talent for? What if? Think of the possibilities? It makes me giddy. You know what else makes me giddy? Miniatures, I love them, but other than that? This YEAR MAKES ME GIDDY! The energy of 2013 is exciting and has glitter. Ok, maybe that is an exageration... you have to bring your own glitter. However, 2013 is set to be the year each of lands on our own stage. The size of the stage will be determined by your desires and your clarity in your life but I promise, we all have a stage. Perhaps yours is in dating again after a break, expanding your business, or finding a way to find your own voice. It doesn't matter what the offering is, just that you are willing to come out from behind the curtains in your own life and stand in your light. Are you ready to do that? Are you willing to do that? I thought you were!

Now, should you need time to decide how to approach the stage, that is fine, take it, be sure, feel confident but don't hide. If you try to hide from you, you will find yourself because you go wherever you go. Did you follow that? If you find yourself pulling back who you are, stop and take some time to ask why you want to hide. It may be old behaviors or old belief systems that didn't get kicked out previously. That is ok, really it is. We are the accumulation of our experiences and the more we lighten up about where we have been and get curious about where we are going, the better life gets!

At year end a lot of people get caught up in the making resolutions and "I'm going to change this or that aspect of myself" game. If only they realized it was possible every moment of every day to shift their experience...imagine the fun!

So, how about it? How about this year? How about realizing every day is an opportunity to grow, to shift, to have fun, to learn, to love, to walk, to run, to breathe, to sing, to hug, to giggle, to shimmer and to accept that you are amazing and yes, the only you so why wouldn't you shine?

Step out on that stage and take the applause, you deserve it. :)

I want to thank each person that has been in my path, and who are yet to be. I am more of who I came here to be because of the interaction and beyond filled with gratitude for this last year of IMMENSE growth and self acceptance. You were part of it whether you know it or not and I appreciate you. So, till we meet for the first time, or again, have a fantastic New Year and a celebration of you!

I have attached an end of the year and beginning of a year process that can help to move energy along. It works well for a full moon process too so it's PERFECT for this year as we have a full moon and a year end!

Viewing life with a BIG stage in mind,
Vicki

www.vickibaird.com
info@vickibaird.com

Full Moon Practice or End of Year Procedure

The full moon is a wonderful time for manifesting even though it is typically thought of as a releasing time. It is in fact that, but it is only through releasing that you can bring in, so what better time than the full moon to take advantage of this!

Spend a few moments of time and write down anything that you would like to release. This can be behavioral, emotional, physical, or even situations that you would like to release. You can do this in list form or you can journal out. However it comes to you is how it is meant to be.

Cleanse your sacred area with an opening prayer, a sage smudging, and/or by burning some incense. Invite your guides, angels, masters, or teachers to be at your side throughout the ceremony. If you do not have these items, no worries, just surround all with white light and take some nice deep breaths.

Light one or more candles. Look to the skies. Breathe in the night air. If you live in an area where you cannot light things, again, go with the white light, but try to be outside.

One by one, read out loud the words you have written on your slip of paper. Set your intention to release the item/addiction/attitude from your life. Set it to fire and place it in the fire proof container. If you have a campsite barbecue or bonfire going that's perfect, just toss the slips of paper into the fire one by one. If you are doing this ritual with a group of others take turns reading your words. If these things are too personal to read out loud, read them silently to yourself. Just remember...our words have power. Saying - "Be Gone" audibly and loudly can be very freeing. This ritual can be very emotional while it is cleansing, but most important it is great to remember to have some fun!

Thank the spirits. Be safe. Put out the fire. If you have, due to necessity, done this ritual in your home, please remember to take the ashes out and scatter them to the four winds. This will carry the energy and allow the releasing to happen. Besides, it is a lot of fun to watch it go and know you did something to take care of you! 

THE NEW MOON and Beginning of Year Procedure

The New Moon and New Year is a great time to affirm what you want to bring into your life and your path. As the phase of the moon shifts it allows us an opportunity to focus on our own shifts.

This moon encourages us to dream, to use our intuition and to create out of the greatest possibility. Does it get any better? So, I intend for you a month of manifestations that bring all that you feel is in your highest interest. I encourage you to keep in mind to be mindful of what you ask for as you may just get it. Luckily, the stages and shifting of energy continue so we get to do it ten more times this year!

You can't do anything wrong with the process below so have fun and dream well. 

You may want to print this out, just a thought.

1) write out a list, (write it out so it has your energy attached) of all those things that you would like to be done with. This can be literal such as clutter in the home, a person in your life, weight, sadness, whatever you would like to not have in your life anymore, write it down.

2) take this list and wrap it with a red ribbon, yes yarn will work too, any shade of red. Put it aside.

3) now, take a deep breath and center back in and write all those things or experiences that you would like to bring into your life, such as financial abundance, love, travel, fun etc. Whatever makes your heart sing and roll that up and wrap it with a red ribbon.(red ribbon is not necessary but does amp it up.)

4) Starting three days before and three days after will be the strongest energy, you will take these lists outside, to keep the energy out of your house and to send into the universe, and starting with the one where you let go, burn it, being safe to catch the ashes in a fireproof object. When it completely burns out and there are no embers, blow the ashes out into the universe wishing them well and feeling lighter because you have released all that stuff you have been carrying.

5) Now, take the other list, the one you are wanting to bring to you and burn that as well. You are following up with positive energy and a statement to the universe that you trust. Even if you feel this is silly, it will still work so no worries. Repeat the part about blowing it out into the universe and then take a moment to "see " your life as it will be.

6) Remember to say thank you before going back inside, to the universe but also to yourself for participating in your own journey.

Kids love this ceremony, yup probably because they get to burn things, but also because it makes sense to their energy so have them do the above mentioned process as well. Just be sure to respect their privacy and allow them to write whatever they would like. Teaching them it is ok to ask is a great thing too!

Be safe in your burning and let the manifesting begin!