Conflict Resolution Tips

Some barriers to resolving disputes can be cultural, clashes in communication style, emotional defensiveness and frustrations, hidden agendas, lack of confidence, loss of focus, mismatched understanding, difference in vocabulary and terminology. 

Pointers: stay with what is, be factual. Conflict is a boundary issue requiring possible mediation, negotiation or arbitration. Initiate problem solving as a conversation. Gain agreement to follow a process. Be clear about all issues. How far can you and they stretch? What is your priority? Can you separate the relationship from the problem? Are you prepared to work together or part ways? Separate the person from the problem. Are they prepared to work with you or not? Can you give this a time scale? Can you negotiate an outcome to your acceptance? What is your ultimate objective? Identify the other person’s strengths and weaknesses. Identify your own. What is your new learning? What is their new learning? Keep a record. 

If - A Poem

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto its nest again, I shall not live in vain. (Alternative words) or help a lonely person into happiness again. 

Emily Dickinson

Why is the Raven black?

Great Spirit decided it was time to give the winged (the birds) their colors. Before this time all of the birds were gray. Their feathers did not carry the beautiful colors they do today. Great Spirit told all of the winged to gather at a special lake which was hidden high in the mountains. All of the winged flew to this magical body of water. Great Spirit told them to dive into the water and they would emerge with beautiful colors in their feathers. Brave little Hummingbird dove in first. He didn't stay long but when he came out he was a beautiful green and had ruby on his throat. Jaybird was next. He stayed a little longer than Hummingbird had. When he emerged he was a bright blue and had a white throat. He wore a black necklace low on his neck. Wren splashed into the depths. When he got out of the water he was brown with a golden chest. Cardinal flew into the lake. He stayed in a bit longer than the others. When Cardinal broke the surface he was bright red and beautiful. Bluebird splashed into the water and stayed for a while. He came up blue with his beautiful red breast. Indigo Bunting dived in. He stayed linger than any of the previous birds. He came up such a beautiful blue that the other birds gasped at his gorgeous color. 

Healing

The word ‘healing’ comes from the root word for hearth ‘HALE’ which means whole. To be whole, we avoid self deception, we engage with others with authenticity, kindness and understanding, empathy and goodwill. When we are disturbed or distressed this affects everything in our life - our work, health, relationships, et cetera. 

Know Thyself was written on the temple of Apollo 2500 years ago along with Everything in Moderation. Knowing yourself means knowing what you are doing to yourself and others. Freud stated that therapy could only replace ‘hysterical misery’ with ‘common unhappiness’.

Codependency No More Book Extract

Dependency issues: Many codependents don’t feel happy, content, or peaceful with themselves. They look for happiness outside themselves. The latch on to whoever or whatever they think will provide happiness for them. They feel terribly threatened by the loss of anything or person they think provides their happiness. They didn’t feel love or approval from their parents. And they don’t love themselves. They believe other people can’t or don’t love them. Desperately they seek love and approval. They often seek love from people incapable of loving. They believe other people are never there for them. They equate love with pain.

If - A Poem

 

Your Spirit Guide Meditation

 

With thanks to Sherry Wakeman for the voiceover and video creation

The Holy Land

Many mysteries surround the antiquity of the Holy Land. Sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, it is the most fought over piece of land in the world! Where is Mount Sinai? Sir Colin Humphreys is a Cambridge University academic who questioned the position of Mount Sinai, the place where Exodus states that Moses heard the voice of God from the burning bush and was given the 10 Commandments.

First Force Field Analysis

Hello! The light in me bows to the light in you! Here are some life tips taken from my old diaries!

Be specific with the following questions. Write the answers down and refer back to them after 1 month:

What one thing would add to/improve/enhance your life?

What are you prepared to do to achieve this?

Is it within your control to get it? What might be the obstacles or not within your control?

How could you sabotage yourself from getting it? 

Will others know you want it?  Will they know when you get it?

Is it in keeping with your standards, judgments and ethics?

Interview - Les Fuller

 Each month for twenty years at Woodford Spiritualist church, Les Fuller, holds a very popular drop in group that is most easily called a 'shamanic workshop'. Many who attend are Spiritualists, though all are welcome, regardless of background or belief. It is an experiential meeting where we sing, drum, some dance, we smell scents, hear bells and rattles, and are uplifted by the community of friendly and caring attenders. Les asks if anyone needs 'healing' and invites them to sit in the centre of the room and relax while others attend in various ways to lay hands on their head or shoulders. Good attention and relaxation are known to heal many ills, especially those that are stress related. There is always a time of active meditation where Les tells us a story which we follow in our mind's eye. During this inner experience, we see, hear and speak to spirit guides, for inspiration, to understand our purpose, or to gain advice for our life's difficulties. Some of the spirit guides might be an animal, such as a dog, a bird or a fish. The directions of North East, South, West, and the Centre are honoured, and there are seasonal celebrations and duties, such as to give thanks, to clean or rest.