Ever have a week where you feel like you are speeding up only to need to hit the brake only then to feel like you are speeding again? Goodness this last week I have felt like a drag racer who didn't know how to drive a standard! (For the record, I can drive a standard!) I knew there were going to be surges in energy this year but this has been caraaaazzzzzyyyyyyyy! It has been very fast with just as powerful bouts of exhaustion. Stop, go, stop go, stop, gooooooooo.

At the beginning of the week I couldn't even form words. I was a babbling idiot. Whenever there is a surge in energy my brain seems to get overloaded and the intelligence I've come to depend on goes out the window. It is quite humbling. This week I actually had to take the time to breathe and collect myself before moving forward. I attempted this blog a few times but it sounded so inane I couldn't put it out there. Thankfully, I do believe my IQ is returning and hopefully this makes sense to you.

If you are having a week of somewhat unbalanced nature, HEY, you aren't alone. It is a great ride this thing we call life and it is freaking nuts sometimes. Since everything in the universe is constantly moving and growing and expanding, the vibrational frequency has to follow suit. Or maybe it starts it, I am unsure on that but either way, it will continue to be pretty high through Tuesday of this next week.

One of the ways you can use this energy is to look at what you would like to have in your life. Maybe start with happiness. Are you happy? If you aren't, what needs to shift to help you get to the happy place? It doesn't  have to be a huge jump, try the small steps first. It is very much like driving a car; you have to start in first gear and go up from there. Any space worth being in, is worth applying energy to. One of the things that can frustrate me is someone who says that they want change but don't want to apply any effort to it. I don't understand why one would waste energy on saying they want something if they aren't willing to take a small step. I can understand fear but I do not understand not attempting even the smallest move.

The forecast of the energy for these next few months is one that is going to be in that place too. It won't ask, can I help you make that small move like I might. It is not going to say, oh you have an excuse, that is so cute. It is going to help you push yourself to honesty. Would you like it to be a willing participant or one that is pushed? It is the kind of pushing that one often hires a coach to help with. It is in your highest interest but it sometimes can feel like pressure until you realize you had the ability all along to help yourself life a great life.

Do yourself a favor and look at how you can use the power surge to your benefit! What would you do if you weren't afraid?  I plan to run when the energy is high and rest when it is in neutral. Learning to go with the flow makes life so much easier!

Buckle your seat belt and get those hands in the air. Why? Why not? Spring may be taking it's time getting here but the energy is not wasting any time springing forward. :)

Riding the wave,
Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

"Inch by inch, row by row, I'm gonna make this garden growAll it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile groundInch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sowSomeone warm them from below 'til the rain comes tumbling down." David Mallett

Remember these lyrics most known from Peter, Paul and Mary? Inch by inch, row by row? It has a great message doesn't it? Let's take it inch by inch and see what happens. Something is bound to grow from that isn't it? Something is going to spring up, maybe where we least expect it, but something will create a row. 

As I write this another song comes on the radio that is about growing. The Rose sung by Bette Midler. It seems the universe is conspiring to get us to remember seasons and the beauty in the steps of change. A rose doesn't start out as a wonderfully aromatic, appealing to the eye flower. It starts as a seed, perhaps carried by the wind to it's new location or perhaps planted there by a kind hand. Either way it is one that is in darkness for quite a while before it reaches the light and is seen by others. It doesn't give up under the dirt because no one is patting it on the back or validating that it is worth being here. It goes about its process of growth and stretching toward that sun and knowing that the rain is really what will nurture it into the gorgeous being it was meant to be.

Why do you think plants and nature are so patient, resilient and accepting of change and people aren't? Have we forgotten that there really is a plan, one that we put in place long before we were a plan in our parents lives? Have we lost trust in the expansion of ourselves and the pure magic of being here in this realm?

I wonder these kind of things all the time. I wonder why we can't just be in the place of admiration of others and this amazing planet we belong to. Why do we gravitate to the negative and fear place? I know a lot of that is taught and we are good learners, but what if there was a way to change that way of thinking and being and be more like nature where things are not so much questioned but adored?

 Have you ever seen a cat lying in the sunshine? The pure joy that is there to be experienced by even those watching is a miracle in itself but are you stopping to witness these miracles? Are you allowing yourself to be part of the amazing process that is life or are you being carried by whatever wind is blowing in this moment? Do you look at rain as a bad thing and something here to personally piss you off or something that is a blessing, one that is nurturing the rose that is not questioning it's journey, but rather experiencing it?

I know change happens a little at a time. I am quite fond of the expression baby steps make lasting difference. Just like you learned to be in fear, you can learn to be in trust of yourself and this amazing journey you are on. Sure it takes practice but so did learning to walk and you did that!

Take today and look to the beauty in the world. Allow your viewfinder to locate the wonder of how this whole life thing works. Take a little of that personal power back and decide how you want to feel. Embrace the wind but for goodness sake, don't let yourself be a passive passenger on this thing called life. It is too precious to waste on complaining. As we learned in the last post, you can either embrace the fertilizer of life or you can sit in your own stuff. Personally, stinky energies are not attractive to me so I'll be planting things big time this week. Care to join me? You can do it inch by inch, row by row, working at your own speed, but do something that moves you toward the harvest you would like to see in your life. I'm sure your garden is there waiting for you to be a part of it. Will you?

Blissfully impressed with this life process,
Vicki

“When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.” William James

It is almost (almost) spring time here in the Berkshires and trust me, people are ready with a capital R. It got me thinking of not only is mud season approaching, we are so lucky to have seasons, but so is planting season. Planting involves many steps and one of those is feeding the plants. Often fertilizer is used to feed the plants to help them grow strong and produce. I love the resourcefulness of nature. A recycling program before recycling was even hip. 

What does this have to do with us? Well, it then occurred to me that we all have fertilizer in our lives. Sometimes it is the decisions we make, sometimes it is the past we've lived and sometimes it is our surroundings. Sometimes there is sh*t in our lives and the only thing that determines whether it is seen as poop or if it is seen as fertilizer is our view of it. 

So, if you take a look at your life, do you see a bunch of poo? I guess I should ask if you are willing to take a look at your life first. As the quote above says when you have to make a choice and you don't make it, you are in fact choosing. You are choosing to sit in your poo rather than see the opportunity to fertilize change. It is not always easy to admit that things may need to be cleaned up but if you've ever had a pet, you know that cleaning up a little at a time is sooooo much better than waiting and doing it later. Besides, poo of any kind starts to stink after awhile. 

Ask yourself if you are going to take seat in your poo chair or are you going to plant a seed in that fertilizer. Are you going to keep complaining about how your parents raised you or are you going to parent yourself and grow some flowers? Are you going to blame all your issues on the town you live in or are you going to use your surroundings to propel you to a better neighborhood and then realize that you have power that is beyond the stink in your life?

While I love fresh veggies, I am not one to tend a literal garden, but a spiritual or emotional one? You betcha! This week I am planting a whole garden of seeds because man, the poo seat is uncomfortable. I know, I used to spend time there in creating excuses to not be great, to not succeed or be happy. How silly was that? Silly and not joy producing. I am going to take advantage of spring and grow more and use the energy of the sun to work with my fertilizer to create the abundance that life has available. Care to join me? 

Blooming happy about life, 
Vicki

P.S. If you would like to support a REAL garden that may need to buy fertilizer, please consider clicking the link to help a local community garden; The Giving Garden Fund Raiser

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others." Brene Brown

This week I have heard myself say the word boundaries quite a few times and whenever there is a pattern like that, I pay attention.  Sure it could be said that having healthy boundaries is applicable for all of us, and it is, but I feel like there is more happening here on the energetic level that is contributing to not only the subject but the practice I have put in place personally.

There is no doubt that 2014 is going to challenge all of us to figure out our own individuality and in doing so, reassess perhaps the ideas of personal space and tolerance. I see boundaries as a picket fence. They are there not to keep others out but to give an indication of what is my space and where I could set perimeters. I have not always been very good at boundaries. I would overwork, over offer my energy, over commit. You name it, I over did it. It wasn't until I reached a place of being fried and then not very effective to self and those around me that I began to see that I needed a picket fence rule.

You see, a picket fence is one that is pleasing to the eye, quaint even, as well as effective. I can see through it, over it and around it. I can also open the gate or leave the gate closed and have a conversation over the fence while maintaining my personal space. I've come to see the gate as a reference to whether I would let someone in or not. This is not only to my personal life but to my head space as well. It was up to me if they were permitted to be on my property or not. It was up to me if I gave too much or expected more from myself than of others. It was up to me if I answered emails or texts after a certain period of time or chose to wait until the next business day. I was in charge of my gate...what a concept!

People don't always mean to infringe on ones space but in this world of technology as well as perception that you have a vote on how I live my life simply because you "know" me, or share DNA or for goodness sake are my Facebook friend, boundaries have become very lax. I happen to agree with Dr. Phil that we teach others how to treat us. I will take full responsibility for that,even if I wasn't aware we were in class! I will also continue to respect myself by remembering I have a gate and teach those in my life now about my gate rules through my behavior and through examples of self respect. I see boundaries as a means to self care rather than a keep people out practice. I see it as a way to hear myself as well as have the space to really see others.

I had an opportunity to practice this just today when someone suggested I changed my prices just to make it so they couldn't book an appointment with me. Even a few short months ago I would have explained the reasons for the changes and justified the increase. Today, however, because my gate was in place, I was able to let the client know that I heard them but no, in fact, I do not base my business on someone I see once a year. I was polite but positive of my position and no longer in possession of swinging gate so the message could be delivered respectfully. When you know where you stand, another persons perception of how you should be no longer applies. It is very freeing! Try it sometime.

What do your boundaries look like? Do you have a nice space around you or do you have a ten foot high wired electric fence to protect you? Boundaries can go the other way too. They can be so rigid that even the ooey gooey heartfelt experiences can't get through. Being aware of your no fly zone can help to improve all of the relationships in your life, including the one with yourself!

If you don't have an awareness of your personal space, well, practice until you do have one. Start with a simple awareness of what matters to you and what you know about yourself. Don't be afraid to look inside to decide what is there, if you don't, you will never be able to apply the boundaries you think you want. Don't worry, they are completely portable. The line can be shifted whenever you feel it needs to be.

I hope you know you are worth a boundary or two and that in taking care of you in that way, you will connect to others in a more authentic and fun way! This is not something you put in place and leave. It will grow as you grow so don't make it difficult. See it as an exploration of you and a gift you give yourself and others. After all, isn't it good fences that make great neighbors? Now if you will excuse me, I have to go purchase the flowers that will compliment my fence line. :)

Blessings,
Vicki
www.vickibaird.com 

"Before the risin' sun, we fly. So many roads to choose. We'll start out walkin' and learn to run. And yes, we've only just begun." Carpenters

Admit it, you are singing the song now aren't you? Well, that is good. It can become a mantra for you when the energy feels like it is zinging you from your crown to your toes because it is only going to get zippier. I am so excited...and sleep deprived.

So, everything has a vibration right? Well, if the last five years have been been water simmering, we are coming to a full rolling boil.This is a good boil and will create the movement of energy that is necessary in manifesting as well as increasing your own vibration. You may be noticing that you are a bit more sensitive as well as a tad more tired than normal. This is all the integration of a higher vibration that we are reaching as a universal community. When the vibration of each individual goes up, the vibration of the universe goes up, when the vibration of the universe goes up, the vibration of each individual goes up. It is the ultimate recycling program.

What does this mean for you? Well, it means that if you pay attention to how you feel and what you would like in your life as well as where you are putting your attention, things will get easier. If you decide to buck the current boil and ignore the fact that whether you believe in energy or souls or the law of attraction, it is happening, then things could require a seat belt and a helmet. Which would you rather do, ride in a forward moving, sometimes turbulent ride or one that requires therapy for spiritual and physical whiplash? Personally, I am going with the first one. Turbulence can be fun and can shake off old habits and belief systems that are keeping us stuck in old patterns. Spiritual and physical whiplash? No thank you! Been there, done that, moving forward and doing it with a song in my heart!

Now this is not a one time thing. This is the new energy of our universe and time. If you are one that likes to bury their head in the sand and not move with the energy, then it has been nice knowing you, I gotta go! For the first time in all of my life the energy actually feels like home. I feel like I belong on this planet and I am not going to waste one moment lamenting or feeling bad about what is behind me or what others may think of me moving forward. I hope you are able to join me as well. With the support of the energy, your intuition is going to be much more available and you may experience all the fun I have been having for the last fifteen years. (Take note of the sleep deprived comment and do yourself a favor and get to like naps. I didn't learn that until very recently!)

While being in touch with your emotions, intuition and guidance system can seem foreign at first, I promise you, it is a BLAST when you realize that you are individual and no one else can do you, so you may as well!

If you are one of the ones that is realizing you can now feel things, see things, hear things and are a bit overwhelmed remember the most important thing ever....breathe! This is not abnormal, this is normal it just hasn't been talked about in the mainstream until now. Kids are particularly sensitive at this time so let's all have some patience and practice this line; "no honey, I don't see/hear/feel what you do but I believe you." Let's all raise a generation of souls that are connected to themselves so they don't have to find ways to disconnect later in life.

I wasn't kidding when I said it has only just begun. The energy is ramping up to a higher vibration in February and all kinds of wonderful openings in understanding as we learn to really hear each other and to respect that we aren't carbon copies and that if someone has something we don't, that is ok. We can be happy for them and create what we would like. No comparisons and no feeling like you have less than others. You have you, that is enough. You get to build on that and if you are smart, which I know you are, you will use the energy to help you.

Take care of you during this time and remember that you have a physical body that is trying to acclimate to it's new vibration and it may need to release some old messages via bodily fluids. That will put a spin on a cold that you hadn't thought of before, won't it? Be grateful for the fluids and remember to thank your body for the message that you may be resisting growing. Wheeeeee, fling that old limiting belief system into the hedges and celebrate being you, a limitless soul who was brave enough to do this human thing AGAIN! How great are you?

I am so excited to be alive at this time. I hope you are too so we can play together!

Welcome to my playground,
Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

There are so many ways to describe the feeling of a new year coming in. There is an excitement that is in the air, our emotions and the celebration of time moving on. This excitement can get mixed up with the reviewing of the previous year. While I do believe being willing to look at where you have been can be very rewarding, it can also be that pit of woe is me that doesn't get anyone anywhere.

I am going to challenge each one of you to take some time over this New Moon, New Year and create a list of the things that you have accomplished this past year. A list of the attributes you have expanded on and the milestones you have reached. Look into the essence of you and find all those really great things that get hidden because bitching is much more common then bragging. Remember to count each and every one that comes to mind. The walks you took instead of giving excuses, the ways that you stepped out of your comfort zone (Personal training in a gym full of people for me. You want to challenge a fear of being on stage, holy macaroni that will do it for you.I love a stage and it still caused some really big doubts.), the people you contacted, the breaths that you took before losing your temper or even the breaths that you took admiring the flowers and scenery. Whatever the movement, great or small, acknowledge it because they matter all. (Like that? It rhymes.)

Then, if you wish, you may do a list of what you would like to see in 2014. Please remember to include the emotional, spiritual and connective journey as well as the physically manifested one for in order to really appreciate the physical, the rest must be in attendance.

I wish all of you the very best and know without a doubt that you are amazing.

See you in the New Year!

Vicki

www.vickibaird.com

“For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.” T.S. Eliot

I love this quote for the fact that it so succinctly points out how people see the new year. It is a chance to shift who you are and how you acted and somehow it is a magic eraser that takes away any marks of the last year too. While I am grateful we have such a great tradition, I believe that we have this ability every day. We can shift in any moment and we can be true to our language, even learning a new language, at any time. We have that ability. Everyone does, regardless of circumstances but for some reason we save it like prized dinnerware for the first of the year.

While this post is about using the time to help yourself as well as the energy of the coming year, universally, you are in charge of your own, I am going to encourage people to get the idea that they are magical and can decide on the spot to shift up how they are being and reach for that better feeling.

2014 is a year of opportunity. Now, every year is as well but this one has turbo fuel behind it. Energetically it feels like someone is manufacturing rocket boosters for all of us. Those that are willing to strap them on and do some clarifying and allowing are going to LOVEEEEEEEE this year. Those that are not so fond of change and accepting of others may not be so gleeful. As stated probably a hundred million times by myself, we have choice. We always have choice in how to respond to a situation, how to inspire ourselves and how to leave what does not resonate behind but how many of you are brave enough to stand in that choice? How many are willing to say, "this is who I am, how I operate and what I want." without checking in with the masses? I hope you are one of them because it is going to be a heck of a ride and you are going to want to check your limitations at the door in order to take advantage of the energy of this year.

What does this mean to you? Well, that is a personal thing but what it can mean is that you are showing up with who you really are and not giving a flying fig if others don't like it. I don't mean you are being confrontational, I simply mean you are able to say, I love me and this is who I am and I know that others opinions have no say in who that is. (If you have challenges with this, come see me, it seems to be a specialty of mine to help others see their own shiny self!) The ability to be willing to hold this vibration is what makes it really cool to be human, in my humble opinion. We have the drive to be better than last year with the intelligence to seek that out, whatever the mechanism.

Let's face it, we may be on this planet with billions of other people and beings, but we are still alone in the who we are as individuals. I don't say that to depress people but to encourage them to be good with that alone space and to truly love who they are so others can then love them too. You are the only you, do it up!

What does your voice say about you? Do you offer up kind words when talking to others and yourself? Do you hear yourself repeating how others feel and it isn't exactly how you do but you follow along anyway? Do you know what you really want in life, in this year, in this day, in this moment? If you don't, that's ok. Spend some time with you and ask those questions and don't be afraid to answer them. Honesty above all other traits is the most important when connecting to self and others. You may not like what you first hear and that is ok too! Often the things we don't like help us to get pointed in the direction of what we do like. Thing of clothing sizes, jobs that don't fit, friends that aren't real friends or relationships that don't light you up. All these things that aren't just right are helping you to figure out what you would like and hopefully you are open enough to hear them and chart a course of improvement.

The energy of this year is in complete support of our best selves. It is the most giddy energy I have felt since 2008 so I am so freaking ready to be in it! I, for one, will be adding to the energy by figuring out how I really want to be in my own skin and soul and creating movement to allow that to happen. Some may not like it but I am not going to hold back on my souls path because others are stuck in theirs or they just don't like what I decide. It may sound cold to some, but I know I filed a flight plan of my own before I got here and as the pilot, I get to decide where I go. Are you ready to fly with me? Have you tuned up your engine and checked your wings?

Grab your goggles and scarf, let's go see what we can create!

Loving the view from up here!
Vicki