KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Newsletter

June 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Newsletter - The Final

2010-05-30T18:21:00.001-07:00

May 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Newsletter

2010-05-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

APRIL 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ NEWSLETTER

2010-03-29T15:16:00.001-07:00

APRIL 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ NEWSLETTER

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A NIGHTMARE WAS ACTUALLY A DREAM COME TRUE

At one time, I held a top level position at a well respected company. When I was released from the position, I was devastated. It was not due to the loss of income or status but rather it was because of ideals and the concept of who I was and what I stood for. I had done enough spiritual study at the time to recognize that everything happens for a reason. So I knew immediately it was for my highest good to move on. It was relatively easy to let the job itself go; in fact I didn’t spend a single moment wishing I could get the position back. My feelings were hurt, and I definitely felt ”less than” (ie: my self-worth took a big hit), but I was able to get to the point of counting the blessings I had received from working with this company fairly quickly. What my Ego grabbed on to was that I was no longer wanted as part of the team. Oh my, there came up all those old “I was the last one picked” memories. My Ego had a field day (week, month…) with those thoughts and stories I concocted.

I’ve been reading The Fifth Agreement. In the book, the authors, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz, talk about our existence in the terms of virtual reality (our personal story) and the true story (our divine selves). My divine self knew that the vibrations of the company and my own vibrations no longer matched. It was not a matter of higher/lower, better/worse, or right/wrong. The relationship was just out of harmony. In playing the piano, a C major chord and a G major chord might harmonize quite well, but a C major chord and a D minor chord do not. It was time for me to create my own music rather than play off key.

Still, my Ego wanted to sing the blues while my divine self wanted to sing the hokey pokey. My Ego was mourning a loss. My divine self was celebrating a new experience and the unlimited possibilities.

Now, given the choice, we’d all pick the option to focus on the unlimited possibilities, right? Yet ego is strong. It says Wait – Wait – You are the STAR in this drama. It’s YOUR story. Let’s tell it again, and again, and again. Over and over and over. You will get support from others. Your friends and co-workers will rally around you and add power to your story. Yes, you were let go. Yes, the reasons given were bogus. The company will surely fall apart without you. And so on, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Thank God, my spiritual training eventually kicked in, and I put that ‘Poor Me” book down, and decided to work on a new story. I have the tools (ideas) for a new book (new experiences). I reached for new affirmations, created a new treasure map and started on a new journey.

From time to time, I check that old book out from the Akashic Library, or listen to the same old song, but Ego is finally getting bored with it all. The old saying “Time heals all wounds” is true. You can make the time go faster. Spend less of your energy reviewing the past. You can’t change it anyway. Spend more time co-creating your new experiences. Dare to dream big!

BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO

Margaret was born, in 1287, just a normal person. Okay, maybe not so ‘normal’ as we may define it. Margaret was born hunchbacked, dwarf, blind and lame to a wealthy family who was ashamed of her condition. They hid her in their castle, never announcing the birth. When she was 6, it became apparent that she could no longer just wander around the castle as someone might notice her, causing embarrassment to the family. She was moved to a small cell next to a nearby church, and kept there for 14 years. Food was brought to her by servants, but she received nothing in the way of nurturing from her family. It was from the family chaplain that she came to know God.

When Margaret was 20, her family took her to a shrine in a neighboring town and prayed for a miracle healing. When no healing occurred, her family abandoned her. Margaret turned to the church and became a member of the Dominican Third Order of Castello. She lived an exemplary life of prayer, penance, and charity. She never complained. She was never bitter. She was known for her kindness.

Healings and miracles began to occur, and the townspeople began to seek out Margaret’s help. One woman came to Margaret for a healing for decreased vision. She told Margaret that she would rather be dead than blind. The woman was surprised by Margaret’s answer. "My dear sister, don't you realize that God is giving you a wonderful opportunity to come closer to Him through the suffering of being blind?"

The woman, fraught with fear over going blind, could not even fathom the possibility that good could come from this situation. Even though Margaret explained that her deformities brought her much faith, and that faith brought much joy and healing to others, the woman could not grasp the concept. Margaret understood how consuming fear of lack and limitation could be, so she placed her hands on the woman’s eyes and prayed. A miracle occurred, and the woman’s vision was returned to normal.

Margaret died in 1320 at the age of 33. More than 200 miracles have since occurred to those who called on Blessed Margaret’s intercession.

Margaret never knew why God allowed her to live with her disabilities and deformities. She did not care. She knew that The Creator knew only good, and therefore she was perfectly ‘normal’ just the way she was.

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS – FOUR

Four is a favorite number for ‘angel people’ – it means the angels are with you. We all love it when we see that it is 4:44 or our grocery bill comes to $44. I’d also be willing to bet that those who play the lottery pick numbers with 4s – 4, 14, 24, 34, 44.

In traditional numerology, 4s are all about stability (think 4 legs on a chair or a table). Other words associated with 4s would be sturdy, reliable, logical, constant, methodical, trustworthy, and dependable.

The creative power that is incurred with the number 3 comes to fruition and stability when 4s show up, either in a reading or around you.

Sending you blessings of peace and enlightenment,

~Betsy~

Website:

www.betsymbrown.com

Blogs:

KISS Card of the Day – www.kisscard.blogspot.com

KISS Newsletter – www.kissnewsletter.blogspot.com

Betsy’s Blah Blah Blog – www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com

March 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Newsletter

2010-03-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

February 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Newsletter

2010-02-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

JANUARY 2010 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ NEWSLETTER

2010-01-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

FALLING INTO PLACE

Okay, I admit it. I am hooked on Facebook, and I’m addicted to Bejeweled Blitz. Recently, I’ve spent more time playing Bejeweled Blitz than I have reading the status updates or comments on Facebook. It just seemed like everyone was saying the same thing, sharing the same concept, repeating the same ideas over and over and over. And it was getting boring, even though every now and then I’d read a quote or an insight from someone that was an A-ha type moment.

For those of you that don’t know Bejeweled Blitz, it’s a game where the object is to get 3 or more of the same jewels in a row, vertically or horizontally. When you do, you get points, and those jewels disappear, and others drop down. It gets really exciting when the new jewels drop down and 3, 4 or 5 in a row line up without your having to make any moves. You can make one little move, and boom – you go from 1,000 points to 75,000 points.

Well, it occurs to me that spiritual understanding can be that same way. It just takes one thought or concept to put you on the right path to get through the maze of life. So for any of us that have the occasionally “I’m so over all this” type of thought, keep writing, keep reading, keep thinking. You never know what might transpire.

I like to share the story of one my ventures into multi-level marketing with a product called Super Blue Green Algae. I was at a nutraceutical workshop with my up-line sponsors. At a break, I was saying that I could understand the health benefits of the products, but the products were expensive. I saw that as a stumbling block for introducing the products to my friends. A woman standing nearby leaned in and said, “You really should read Catherine Ponder’s book, The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity. At the time, I was annoyed that she butted into the conversation. A few weeks later, I’m in a bookstore and I’ll give you one guess which book falls off the shelf at my feet. I don’t believe in coincidences, so I bought the book, and read it. Catherine Ponder is the founder of Unity Worldwide and she is a Unity Minister. I loved the book, and decided to attend the Unity Church. One of the programs the church offered was called The Four T Prosperity Program. I registered for that course and began to use the techniques I learned. It was during that time that I started to see demonstrations of how our thoughts create our reality. Some of the things I was able to manifest included tuition fees for four quarters at our local community college, where I completed hypnotherapy training, and funds to cover room, board, tuition and travel expenses to become an Angel Therapist®. The” jewels” continued to fall into place, and I was able to create a dream job, travel, meet incredible people, and now be semi-retired.

Alas, right now, I’m having one of the down periods, where it seems I just cannot line up 3, let alone 4 or 5, jewels. I just feel stuck. I love to write, but even finding a topic for this newsletter was a challenge. But the thing is, I’m keeping at it. I know without a doubt that pretty soon all those metaphorical jewels will be lining up, things will drop into place, connections will be made, bright lights will sparkle, and bolts of lightning will electrify my life. Until then, my job is just to continue to show up, write each day, and when I’m stuck, I will look for the messages in the little things in life, like a simple game of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook.

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN

As I’ve shared before, I was raised Lutheran. I did not grow up hearing stories about saints. I only knew saints existed because most of my friends were Catholic. I have a vague recollection of the kids choosing a saint before they were confirmed, but I really didn’t know what it was all about. What I now know is that saints were ordinary people who had extraordinary experiences in their lives. They came from all walks of life, all over the world. Some responded to the call of God early in life, others later. Part of the process of being named a saint is that there must be record of at least two miracles occurring after the death of that person. Miracles are (simply) defined as a positive occurrence that directly results from an intercessory prayer. I grew up praying to God, to Jesus and to angels. Who knew there were all these other wonderful beings I could have asked for help. I’m having fun discovering all these new heavenly assistants.

Saint John Neumann was the first man from the United States to become a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church. John was born in March 1811, in what is now the Czech Republic. He wanted to become a priest, but after graduating from seminary, the local bishop had declared there would be no ordinations for the time being as the area had a high number of priests already. Because John’s goal was to be ordained, he wrote to bishops in the United States asking about the possibility. In 1836, he came to the US and was ordained by the diocese in New York. He became a naturalized citizen in 1848 and a few years later went on to become the bishop of Philadelphia. He was the first bishop in the United States to organize a Catholic diocesan school system, and he increased the number of Catholic schools in his diocese from one to one hundred. Although Saint John Neumann is not a patron saint of anything in particular, he was active in ministering to the students and to the poor.

John took a vow of poverty when he became a Redemptorist priest. This is an order than ministers to those in neglected, abandoned and poor communities. John literally gave away all he owned except for a change of clothes. He owned only one pair of shoes. He did not choose a life of poverty because he enjoyed being poor but learned from his vow that the real joys and treasures in life cannot be bought.

I come from a long line of fuss-ers, on my father’s side. We are not choosy about that which we fuss. We will gladly cover most every modern day occurrence, from money to health to missing our exit off the freeway, and so on. The role of major fuss-er goes to the oldest member of the family. Right now, that is my uncle who is in his 80s. I am next in line. I’d like to break the habit and not pass it on down to my kids. Recently I have been fussing about income. I have been, according to the IRS, self employed since 2003. Nothing has changed since then. I’m still self employed, but I’m not doing much to attain income. Part of this is due to things beyond my control, such as the current financial climate and loss of a major client, but a lot of it is by choice. I like being semi-retired. I say semi, because I still want to attract earned income from writing but I’m not really doing much in a way that would attract paying jobs. So I started doing what came naturally to me. I fussed. I fussed about not wanting to work a regular job. I fussed about not wanting to tap into investments. I fussed about budgeting. I fussed about this and I fussed about that. And all the time I was fussing, I knew I was just practicing the Law of Attraction and inviting new experiences that would give me more to fuss about. Here I was writing a course on attracting abundance and I was having trouble doing it myself.

I got up this morning knowing I had to finish up the newsletter, and I was going to write about the Blessed Mother, Mary. I work with Mary a lot and I’ve been reading Jesus, The Book, where Mary plays a strong role in the spiritual education of a girl named Miriam. I have much to share about Mary, but words were just not coming. I couldn’t put anything together that had any continuity. And finally I got a message from Mary, “Don’t write about me this month.” Oh great – I’ve got to find someone else. I pulled out the book, 365 Saints by W. Koenig-Bricker, and started reading. This is how I found Saint John Neumann. I’d like to share part of what she wrote.

“How much money would it take for you to feel comfortable? Some studies have indicated that no matter what you earn, your so-called comfort zone is just a little bit higher. Most of us would feel content if we earned a few thousand dollars more each year.”

So true. I have minimal monthly expenses and have nothing to really worry about. But, sure, with a few thousand dollars more each year, I could buy a few items that might make my day-to-day existence more pleasant. But the author goes on to say, “When we value ourselves merely for what we own, we will always be poor. Only when we realize that God values us for what we are, not what we have, do we become rich beyond measure.”

It was a head slapping, darn I could have had a V8 type moment. I knew that. I’ve just got to quit fussing!

This quote is from a sermon by John Neumann: “Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random…..God sees every one of us; He creates every soul for a purpose. He needs, He deigns to need, every one of us. He has an end for each of us; we are all equal in His sight… As Christ has His work, we too have ours; as He rejoiced to do His work, we must rejoice in ours also.”

Tonight, I will light a candle in honor of Saint John Neumann. Then I will get to work, writing, for I am rich beyond measure.

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

I love numbers. I thought it would be fun to take a simple look at numbers over the next 10 months. And, because I like to do things in order, we will start with one.

First I would like to distinguish between 'numerology' and 'angel messages' through repetitive numbers. The idea of angels communicating with us via repetitive numbers and number sequences was first introduced by Doreen Virtue in her book, Healing With The Angels. It was later explored further in the book she co-authored with Lynnette Brown, called Angel Numbers. In a nutshell, they taught that when you started recognizing specific numbers or number sequences were showing up and catching your attention, that this was the angel’s way of passing on messages to you. In that specific teaching, if you see repetitive ones, the angels are asking you to watch your thoughts. It is a call to ask you to consider what you are thinking about, and put it in the positive. For instance, let’s say you were concerned about your health, and you start seeing 1s everywhere. You look at the clock at it is 11:11 or 1:11. You see license plates with 111 in the number. You look at the page of a book you are reading and it is 111. The message is to caution you to think positively about your health, not about a troubling diagnosis you may have received. The key is the repetition of the numbers and the message therein.

First, let me apologize to any professional numerologists who may be reading this newsletter. Remember, the newsletter is entitled KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart). What follows is a very simple and basic discussion of my own take on numbers.

Numerology is the study of numbers and their vibrations. These numbers play a role in our basic lives and can help us to better understand ourselves, our life purpose and our attitudes, and can help us with our personal planning and decisions. Numerology 101 basics would have you find your Life Path number, which is the sum of individual numbers in your birth date, reduced to a single digit. And your Destiny Number, which is the sum of the numerical assignment of the letters of your full birth name. For instance, my birth date reduces to a 6 and my destiny number reduces to 9.

This month, we will look at the vibration of the number one. Ones are associated with beginnings, new ideas, creation, and potential. It also carries a vibration of leadership, intelligence, courage and determination.

In numerology, you can calculate your personal day number, your personal month number, and your personal year number as divination tools. You can read about your life path, your destiny, karmic lessons, hidden passions and so on.

I took a look at my own chart and found a hidden passion of one. So you can see how the vibration of the number plays out in a reading, here is what mine says:

“Betsy, you have a strong drive to stand out. You have a great ambition and desire to accomplish. You are highly competitive and want to be the best and the first in everything you do. You are highly energetic and creative. You are capable of influencing and even dominating others. You have highly developed political skills, and can succumb to manipulation unless your ideals are high.

Ironically, there are times when you lack confidence, especially at an earlier age, but you have the strength to overcome this obstacle. Betsy, you are a survivor, a warrior, a leader. “

Another one in my chart is the Plane of Expression (Physical) and here is what that section says:

“Betsy, you are active and inspiring; you are daring in business and other areas of life. You have strong likes and dislikes and live according to your opinions. You are charming and witty but get bored easily. You work hard and determined and are very goal-oriented. You thrive on the combination of enthusiasm and challenges, the lack of which makes you dull and disinterested. You are like a flare, burning brightly for a specific duration, but must move on to other projects in order to sustain your excitement.”

If you are interested in numerology and the vibration of numbers, there are plenty of websites on the subject. Just google numerology and see what comes up. I also offer numerology reports from my website, www.betsymbrown.com.

PERSONAL UPDATE

My husband, Kim, and I have been enjoying the warm weather of Phoenix for the last 2 months. We are now heading out to explore the rock/gem/mineral and RV shows in Quartzsite, AZ and then down to Yuma, AZ to visit with friends. I’m continuing to write, both fiction and non-fiction, while we are travelling, and enjoy blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I invite you to join me there if you haven’t already.

Sending you blessings of peace and enlightenment,

~Betsy~

Blogs:

KISS Card of the Day – www.kisscard.blogspot.com

KISS Newsletter – www.kissnewsletter.blogspot.com

Betsy’s Blah Blah Blog – www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com

Website:

www.betsymbrown.com

DECEMBER 2009 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ NEWSLETTER

2009-12-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

CHASING HAPPINESS

I woke up the other morning, and realized I was happy. Nothing had happened. No dream that I remembered. I was just happy. How the heck did that happen? I’ve been on a roller coaster of ups and downs recently. Luckily, I’ve spent more time on the up side, but those pity parties occur here and there. So how the heck did I reach happiness that morning? If I had a step by step action plan for reaching happiness, I’d undoubtedly have a publishing contract and be on a book tour of major cities in the US and Canada. But being famous and traveling on a schedule not of my own making is not my idea of happiness. That, and I have no clue how this happiness occurred.

When I was in my early 20s, I was searching for the love of my life. I had a few long term relationships, but I dreamed of being married and having a family. The more I searched for the man that I thought would bring me happiness, the more less than desirable dates I attracted. When I decided to quit looking, and just enjoy myself, I was introduced to the man I have now been married to for greater than 30 years.

Earlier this decade, I had a dream job that I loved, but I was becoming more and more aware that the job was not fulfilling to me. I spent some time imagining the perfect job. I did nothing more than that. I just imagined what it could be. Within a year, that job, just as I had imagined it, came to me.

These two examples are major milestones in my life. In between those times have been those experiences where I’ve pushed, pulled, prayed, pleaded and pursued happiness to no avail. I have no words of wisdom, really, concerning this topic. I just know that happiness is something everyone wants to have, and that there is no magic formula. Happiness just happens.

While you are waiting for or maybe already experiencing your happiness, allow me to share these quotes I found on the subject. Some are profound. Some just made me laugh. I was happy just reading them. Enjoy!

The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase, if you pursue happiness you'll never find it. – C P Snow

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right? - Charles Schultz

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude. – Denis Waitley

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. – FDR

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. – George Burns

Remember that as a teenager you are in the last stage of your life when you will be happy to hear the phone is for you. – Fran Leibowitz

The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy. – H.H. The Dalai Lama

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller

Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within. – Ramona L Anderson

SAINT NICHOLAS

How could I do a December newsletter and not pick Saint Nicholas to write about? This beloved saint is one that is honored by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches. I was raised Lutheran, and had no church training about saints. This is one non-biblical religious figure that I remember from childhood, although to me he was Santa. I was as familiar with the story, The Night Before Christmas, as anyone else, and knew Santa was also known as Saint Nicholas, but it did not occur to me that there really was a man of historical significance named Nicholas, who was venerated and canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, until I was an adult. Before formal canonization procedures were instilled by the churches, people venerated (regarded with reverential respect/honored) those who had been exemplars of the faith in their local areas. As a saint's reputation grew beyond a local area, the saint received more widespread observance.

In the Catholic Church, the process for becoming a Saint (with a capital S) starts with recognition that the person led a life of holiness and virtue, and is worthy of being honored. Next follows investigation into indisputable evidence of miracles worked through this person’s intercession. An official feast day is then assigned (usually the day of their death and entrance into heaven), and after more investigation, and reviews, the name is submitted for canonization, and then is officially declared a Saint by the head of the church.

How Saint Nicholas became known as Santa Claus did not come up in my research, but evidence of Nicholas’ holiness, virtue, generosity and miracles did.

Nicholas was orphaned at a relatively young age, and he chose to use his inheritance to help the poor, the sick and the suffering.

The earliest miracle attributed to Nicholas involved healing. One day as Nicholas was on his way to study with his teacher, he came upon a woman with a withered hand. Stopping, he approached her, laid his hand on her, prayed to God, and made the sign of the cross. The hand miraculously became whole.

There are written accounts of Nicholas expelling demons and evil entities (fear based thoughts which have taken form). Nicholas went about the countryside, and calling upon the power of the Holy Spirit, he was able to cast out demons and heal people of various ailments.

Saint Nicholas’ association as a gift-giver most likely comes from the story of a poor man with three daughters. It was common in those days for a father to offer a dowry for his daughter to a prospective husband. The larger the dowry, the better the chance was that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry and many were destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three separate occasions, a bag of gold appeared in this man’s home, providing the funds needed for the dowry . The bags of gold were tossed by Nicholas through an open window, and landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This is most likely the origin of the tradition of Christmas stockings, hung by the fire place. (Santa doesn’t need to come down the chimney – he just needs a window or door through which to enter, just in case you were concerned.)

Nicholas is also known as a protector of children. On the eve of Nicholas’ feast day (December 6th), a young boy from Myra (Nicholas’ home town) was abducted by a band of pirates and made to serve as a personal aide to the ruler. A year from the date of his abduction, the boy’s mother prayed to St Nicholas for the boy’s safe return. In the meantime, as the boy was serving wine to the emir from a golden cup, he was suddenly whisked up and away. St. Nicholas appeared to the terrified boy, blessed him, and set him down at his home back in Myra. The boy was suddenly in the presence of his family, still holding the golden cup.

Another miracle attributed to Nicholas involved 3 lost boys who wandered into a butcher’s shop. The butcher killed the boys, and then hid them in a salting tub. Seven years passed, and one day Nicholas appeared to the butcher, ordering him to uncover the salting tub. Nicholas put his hand on the tub, and prayed to God. He then said, “Children, rise up.” The children stood up, alive and well.

Nicholas is also the patron saint of mariners, fishermen and sailors. Nicholas was returning by boat from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There, as he walked where Jesus had walked, he sought to more deeply experience Jesus' life and to understand spiritually what Jesus had demonstrated. A mighty storm came up, tossing the boat about. Even the experienced sailors were frightened. Nicholas calmly prayed, and the winds died down and the seas calmed. Another story tells of a similar experience, where a boat went aground during a storm. The sailors had heard stories of the intervention of Saint Nicholas, coming to the aid of fisherman and mariners. So, they called on Saint Nicholas for help. Nicholas actually appeared on the boat, assisted the sailors in repairing the mast, and freeing the ship. As soon as the boat was on its way, the vision of Nicholas disappeared. The ship pulled into the nearest harbor, and men sought out a church where they could worship and give thanks for the assistance they received from Nicholas. Seeing a number of priests, they were very surprised to see Bishop Nicholas in the flesh. He appeared exactly as they had seen him on board the ship, giving them assistance. They asked Nicholas how he had heard them and been able to come to their rescue. Nicholas told them that a life devoted to God allows a person to become so clear-sighted that we are able to actually see others in danger and hear their calls for help.

Saint Nicholas, a regular man, devoted to God and service to man, heals by touch, commands the dead to rise up and go home, calms the seas and the winds through prayer, bi-locates to assist others, and gives to those in need with generosity. Are you a regular man/woman? Jesus came to show us how. Nicholas is also a prime example. The potential is there for you to accomplish the same and more. This Holiday Season, or anytime, anyone can call on Saint Nicholas for help to be all that they can be.

DIVINATION TOOLS – TRUST

Trust, a divination tool? Yes, it is. I once had a teacher who taught that everything you hear, saw, felt or thought during a reading was, indeed, part of that reading. Nothing pops into your mind or field of awareness as a matter of coincidence. The message may not be immediately clear to you, as a reader, but your job is to share what you are getting and work with the client to determine how it relates to their situation. You really have no control over what thoughts enter your mind, what your eyes see, what your ears hear, or what your gut feels, but you do have control over whether or not you mention it. Do your client a favor – trust what you get!

GOODBYE 2009

For me, this year has not been exactly what I expected. We moved to Hawaii. We moved back. We bought a 5th wheel trailer and truck, and took off on an adventure. We’ve been to Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona. I’ve not ‘worked’ since March, and I admit, I kind of like the idea of retirement, whatever that really means.

We are flying home to spend Christmas week with the family. We miss them and are looking forward to seeing everyone.

We are also looking forward to 2010. We are without expectations for the coming year, other than to be home for the births of our first grandchildren. One is due in March and the other in May. I am not being guided to do much of anything, except write. So write I will. I will be updating my website, offering a few more services and a few more products. Maybe I’ll do some teaching. Oh wait a minute, those sound like expectations. Hmmmm…….Should we talk New Year’s Resolutions, instead? Oh let’s not, and say we did, okay?

Sending blessings to you all for a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year.

~Betsy~

PS: Blatant plug here – I’ve established a fan page on Facebook. It is called Betsy Brown's KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Page. I’d love to have you become a fan. I will be posting a KISS card for each day, after January 1st, and other fun things.

Nov 2009 KISS Keep It Simple Sweetheart™ Newsletter

2009-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

WHO YA GONNA CALL?

A while back, I started to read a book in which the author stated that there was no good reason to call on angels for help. Her view was that you should only call on God for help. Angels were nice and supportive, but if you need help, you should go directly to God. I took offense at this, set the book aside and never finished reading it. This was too bad, because she taught a modality that was of great interest to me, but I could not get past the idea that she was dissing the power of angels.

I got to thinking about other scenarios where you call for help. If there is a medical emergency at home, you call 911. You speak to a emergency screener/operator, who alerts and passes on information to the first responding unit (which may be a police officer or the fire department). After that you may have an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) on the scene, and then a Paramedic. If you needed more medical care, the ambulance or Medic One unit would be in radio contact with nurses and other professionals at the hospital. When you enter the hospital, you may be seen, examined and attended to by nurses, physician’s assistants, and emergency room doctors. Other personnel may become involved in your care from laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, and so on. If you are admitted, you will have an attending physician and perhaps a specialist, such as a cardiac surgeon or a neurologist.

So, who ya gonna call? You can receive help from any number of sources, individually or as a team.

Spiritually, we have an incredible number of team members to call on. We can call on God (also known as the Creator or the Source). We can call on Angels, the messengers of God. We can call on our Master Teachers, such as Jesus, Babaji, Buddha, Mother Mary, Mohammed, Saint Francis, and so on. We can call on the Fairy Kingdom. We can call on our Animal Spirit Guides (or Power Animals). We can call on the archtypical energies of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine as see in the gods and goddesses we read about in mythology. We can call on our Spirit Guides. We can call on Guides from other planets and dimensions. And then we have our earth angels, our spiritual teachers and counselors, our healers and energy workers, our friends and our families. We have an abundance of spiritual helpers just waiting to assist our every call. We just need to ask.

So, who ya gonna call? God? Angels? Your favorite Master Teacher? Your Reiki Master? Your Spirit Guide? Your Power Animal? The Fairies? A Tarot Reader? An Intuitive Counselor? Choices, choices, choices. The answer is to call on the one that you feel most guided to call. That team member may suggest you invoke the aid of another as well. There is no one right way to ask for help. However, it starts with metaphorically picking up the phone and calling 911.

SAINT MARCIAN

When I start to think about which saint to talk about in the upcoming newsletter, I casually browse through the saints listed in a book, 365 Saints: Your Daily Guide To The Wisdom And Wonder Of Their Lives by Woodeene Koenig-Bricker. This month, what the author wrote for November 2nd caught my eye.

“St Marcian was a hermit in the fourth century, when hermits were more popular than they are now. He lived in such a small cell, he couldn’t stand up straight or lie down flat and primarily ate bread. Despite his oddities, he attracted many followers and, at the end of his life, had to put up with people debating over which chapel he was going to be buried in.

“In a day and age when you can drive the entire length of the country and see the same stores in the same malls, eat at the same fast food restaurants and see the same movies, the saints stand as a glorious tribute to uniqueness. No saint ever got to heaven by following the same path as another. Even though the saints often influenced each other, they always remain vibrantly unique individuals.

“Sometimes we let ourselves get stuck in a pattern of conformity. We dress, not the way we might like, but the way we think we should. We eat the right foods, read the right books, watch the right TV shows. It may be comfortable to conform, but it’s dull, boring and not the least bit saintly.”

At the end of the page, the author asks, “Do I let others dictate my behavior?”

I sat straight up and took notice of that question. Wow! Yes, sometimes I do. I had the great opportunity to work for a well known spiritual author and teacher. Now, I’m a jeans and tee-shirts kind of gal, but soon I found myself buying and wearing goddess wear, sparkly things, shawls, big crystal jewelry. At that time, I was a vegetarian, but soon I was feeling guilty that I wasn’t a vegan. And when my body was telling me that I needed to return to eating animal protein, I refused to listen. I even went through a raw food phase when I thought that was what I needed to do to be a valued representative of this teacher.

Now, let me be clear. I was never asked to change my behavior or way of dressing or eating. I did it of my own volition because I wanted to fit in and be accepted. What I am asking myself now, after reading this page on St Marcian, is why? Why did I think I needed to change? The simple answer is, of course, Ego and fear of being unwanted, unliked, judged, etc.

Time came for us to part ways, and I am now spending my time on a journey of self exploration and taking some time off to travel and see what there is to see. I’m back wearing jeans and tee-shirts (or shorts and tank tops). Eating what I want. Watching the movies and TV shows that appeal to me. Reading the books I like. Talking about my own spiritual beliefs, and sharing what rings true to me. One of the affirmations I use often is “I am perfect, just as I am – a child of God.” I use this to remind myself to be me! I love the affirmation Woodeene Koenig-Bricker includes at the end of the article as well.

“I have the courage to be the unique individual I was created to be.”

St Marcian was known for his holiness and the miracles he performed. Nowadays, we have spiritual teachers and leaders whom we honor and respect for their wisdom, teachings and their intuitive or psychic insight. We seek them out, just as St Marcian, the hermit, was sought out. We want to learn from them. We want to be like them. We want to act like them. We want to do what they do so we can be exactly the same as them.

Or is that Ego, once again leading us down a path of fear?

So, let me ask you this. What behavior or practice have you taken on only because it was what someone else does? Not because you like it. Not because it suits you. But only because you are imitating someone you admire. Remember a good leader/teacher will never require you to be untrue to yourself. A good leader/teacher will let you know what works for him or her, and encourage you to experiment to find out what works best for you. Have the courage to be uniquely you, and to love and accept yourself just as you are!

PSYCHOMETRY

Psychometry is a divination technique where the reader picks up images and impressions from an object. In practicing psychometry, you will use your ‘clairs’ – clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience and claircognizance. Maybe the information will come in strongly through one sense, or maybe you will be using all of your intuitive channels.

When you touch an item, you leave a fingerprint or an impression of you. The more you touch or wear that item, the more impressions, or energetic vibrations you will leave. It is those impressions (physical and emotional) that the reader will pick up and interpret.

Like all divination tools, the more you use this method, the better you will get using it. The better you get, the more the information will flow.

Start with a simple exercise like this. Prepare yourself the way you would to do any psychic or spiritual work. Have your client give you an item to ‘read’. Remember, the more you have worn or touched the object, the stronger the vibrations will be. A ring, a watch, a set of keys, something that is touched or worn daily works best. Hold the item in your non-dominant (receptive) hand. Close your eyes and ask the item for information. The memories held within the object will begin to come to you. At first, you may just get recent impressions of what has happened to the client or with the object. Or you may pick up some history of the item itself. For instance, you are reading your client’s watch, and you intuitively pick up (feel or see or think of) water. You just mention water to the client who tells you that the watch recently got wet and the client was worried that the watch would be damaged. Or perhaps you are reading your clients ring, and you start to hear Christmas Carols or you see a Christmas tree, and the client lets you know that the ring was a Christmas gift.

In my experience, psychometry is great for getting information or messages from transitioned loved ones. It’s another tool for your psychic/spiritual tool kit.

FORTUNE TELLING WITH FOOD

This is the final part in the series of using the energies of certain foods to bring good luck. This month’s topics are Business & Employment and Brains & Intelligence. This information comes from the book Fortune Telling With Food by Noriko Kuriyama. I’d love to hear feedback if you try any of these food suggestions out.

Business and Employment Foods: Carrots, cauliflower, celery, green onions, kidney beans, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, soy beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, apples, bananas, figs, grapes, melons, oranges, strawberries, tangerines, anchovies,catfish, lobster/shrimp, oysters, scallops, tuna, breads, cashews, rice, sesame seeds, walnuts, honey, popcorn, yogurt, sake, milk and tea.

Brains and Intelligence Foods: Asparagus, carrots, cauliflower, celery, green beans, green onions, kidney beans, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, pumpkin, soy beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, yams, apples, cherries, figs, grapes, lemons, melons, oranges, papaya, peaches, strawberries, tangerines, anchovies, lobster/shrimp, oysters, scallops, breads, cashews, rice, sesame seeds, walnuts, honey, yogurt, green tea, milk and tea.

For those of you that may be interested, there are certain foods that score the highest (ie: most beneficial according to the author) in all categories: Luck/Fortune, Health/Well Being, Marriage/Family, Passion/Sex, Business/Employment and Brains/Intelligence. Those foods are:

Cauliflower, pumpkin, soy beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, figs, melons, lobster/shrimp, rice, sesame seeds, walnuts and honey.

Hmmm…..what will be on your menu today?

NOVEMBER SPECIALS

Because I am being called to spend my time writing, I called on a few friends to see if they would help me out by offering some specials. These are all excellent intuitive readers, and I highly recommend them.

Shamsi : *Gratitude Special* $10 readings - (15 minutes in person or phone or 1 Question via email) - $50 Intuitive reading with Reiki sessions - in person or distance (typically 45-60 min). Please see her website for details and payment methods http://www.shamsidances.com/products__services

Nicole Dema: Three month “Look Ahead” tarot spread just $25. A great end of the year, prepare for the New Year reading. Please see her website for details. http://sacredcandy.typepad.com/sacred-candy/intuitive-tarot-readings.html

Martin Jordan: Give someone the gift of a reading for the holidays. $80.00 per hour session until the end of December. This is also great to get you started for the New Year. Martin is reading on Thursdays only, so please book your sessions early. Please email Martin at martin@drmartinjordan.com or call 941-926-7522 to arrange a session.

Don't forget to visit my blogs. Keep up with where I am and what I'm doing. I may be in your area and would love to see you.

http://www.kisscard.blogspot.com/ – Daily KISS card and interpretation

www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com – Mostly metaphysical musings, with an occasional wild thought tossed in for your entertainment.

www.rv-virgins.blogspot.com – Follow my husband, Kim, and me as we travel around the US and Canada in our Ford F250 and Hitchhiker II 5th wheel trailer.

With loving blessings to you all,

~Betsy~

October 2009 KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Newsletter

2009-10-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

DID GOD CREATE THE COMMON COLD

Is there anything more annoying than the symptoms of the common cold? You feel like crap. Your throat is sore. Your frontal sinuses are so full that you have trouble thinking, let alone breathing. No one wants to be around you because you are hacking, sniffling and/or sneezing, and presumably contagious. What, Dear Lord, is the purpose of the common cold.

I love Louise Hay’s work. In her book, Heal Your Body, she attributes a mental cause to every physical ailment, and offers a correcting/positive affirmative thought to treat the condition. The probable cause, according to the book, for a cold (or upper respiratory illness) is too much going on at once. Mental confusion. Small hurts. The belief that you always get X number of colds during the winter.

Okay, two out of those four causes apply to me. My daughter had a cold for about a week before I came down with symptoms. And I’d venture a guess that at least two of the four causes applied to her as well. I’m not sure where my daughter was exposed to this particular cold virus, probably at work in the medical office where she is the office manager.

I’m wondering if we traced back the viral symptoms to the very beginning, would we find that everyone can relate to some of these causes. It’s not unlikely, but really, sometimes isn’t a cold virus just a cold virus?

On the other hand, my son in law, who also most likely shares some of those fear based thoughts with the rest of us, never gets sick with these types of symptoms. It’s so not fair. I can affirm and affirm and affirm, and still feel yucky. I’m much more of an optimist than my son-in-law is. So what’s up with that?

From a medical standpoint, we know that the common cold virus lasts typically 7 – 10 days. It’s interesting to me that my first interest in holistic health came from reading Linus Pauling’s work regarding Vitamin C. My father, a physician, thought that was bupkis. I was a teenager at the time, and as a form of rebellion I took large amounts of Vitamin C whenever I experienced cold type symptoms, and refused the Tylenol and Sudafed my dad recommended. The virus still lasted 7 – 10 days, but I insisted I felt better. The trick was to take 3000mg or more of Vitamin C each day the moment the symptoms appeared. It was the first time my dad and I agreed to disagree, and let each other handle the symptoms in the manner we each saw fit for ourselves.

Jump ahead a few decades; I’m no longer a teenager. I’ve learned a number of other palliative treatments for the symptoms associated with the common cold. There’s the neti pot, which gets a definite two thumbs up from me. There’s detox tea, ginger tea, hot water with honey and lemon, chicken soup, acidophilus, grapefruit seed extract, humidifiers and so on from the ‘natural’ cure side. Then there are pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines, antibiotics, nasal sprays, etc. from the pharmaceutical side of things.

I don’t know about you, but I would do most anything anyone suggested to keep from feeling crappy. Like most people, I try to avoid pharmaceuticals. I’d love to affirm away these cold symptoms, but right now, I’m more interested in just feeling better. I still use the affirmations from Louise Hay. (I allow my mind to relax and be at peace. Clarity and harmony are within me and around me. All is well.) I’m still taking increased amounts of Vitamin C, and using my neti pot, and drinking herbal teas, and I’m calling on my healing team of Archangel Raphael and Jesus. I’m also taking Tylenol and Sudafed (and I’m trying not to give in to feelings of guilt for not handling the symptoms totally from a natural basis). On a scale of 1 to 10 for crappiness – I’m at about a 3 or 4. I was at an 8. By day 10, I should be feeling great.

Palliative treatment means treating the symptoms, not the disease. Common colds are caused by viruses. There is no cure. There is only treating the symptoms in an effort to feel better. What I’ve learned is that feeling better is the primary goal when you feel crappy. All treatments come from God, whether you find them at the Health Food Store, the Natural Food Co-op, or your local pharmacy. Whether you choose to go the natural route, or the Western Medicine route, the best treatment for you is the one (or combination of both) that makes YOU feel better! Thumbs down to the common cold. Thumbs up to Divine Perfect Health!

SAINT HEDWIG

I had a difficult time deciding which saint to focus on this month. Many of the well known saints have feast days celebrated in October. Saint Therese of Lisieux on October 1st, Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4th, Saint Teresa of Avila on October 15th, Saint Luke on October 18th, and Saint Jude on October 28th, among others.

I settled on Saint Hedwig. Truth be told, I was attracted to this saint because of Harry Potter’s owl. Silly reason, I’m sure, but this saint attracted my notice, and I paid attention.

Hedwig was married at age 12 to Henry I, the future Duke of Silesia in what is now southwest Poland and northern Czech Republic. Hedwig and Henry were very devout, and contributed large sums to the church. Hedwig founded numerous religious houses, including Silesia's first nunnery at Trebnitz. After her husband's death, she retired to this convent, but was not received into the order as a sister because she chose to retain the right to spend her money in the charities of her choosing. She cared for the sick and supported the poor. Hedwig spent much time in meditation on what was considered supernatural things.

Hedwig earned the reputation of a saint, even during her lifetime. On her death, she was interred in the church attached to the monastery. Due to her good works, and healing miracles associated with her tomb, she was canonized in 1267.

Hedwig is considered the patron saint of orphaned and abandoned children. Very appropriately, Hedwig was chosen as the name for Harry Potter’s owl.

Another reason I liked Hedwig was because she held onto control of her money. She used her wealth to fund convents and monasteries, build schools for orphans and the under-priviledged, and to provide items needed for communion and Mass at the churches in her area. We can call on Saint Hedwig to help us be fiscally responsible. She can help us to learn how tithing can contribute to our own prosperity.

CLAIRSENTIENCE

Tuning into your clairsentience means to interpret the physical feelings you are having as divine messages. Types of clairsentient (which means clear feeling) messages would be having a tight feeling in your gut, your heart may race, a feeling of peace coming over you, the smell of smoke, a choked up feeling…anything you feel, smell or taste during the course of a reading is a clairsentient message. It is up to you (and the client if you are reading for someone else) to interpret how these feelings apply to the situation. Clairsentience is a form of divination tool that is probably the most accepted, and respected, by humans. We’ve all had gut instincts about things. And through experience, we’ve learned to trust those instincts. Even the team from TV’s NCIS show knows to trust Gibbs’ gut!

One way to use clairsentience that isn’t talked about often is to ask for a physical feeling to confirm you are working with a specific angel, saint or master teacher. When I work with Jesus, my tongue feels numb. Like many folks, when I work with Archangel Michael, I feel very warm. While these physical signs are not necessary, they do go a long way in quieting the questioning Ego. If you’d like a clairsentient sign, just spend some time meditating with your angel, saint or master teacher, and ask for a physical cue. Trust the first feeling you tune into.

FORTUNE TELLING WITH FOOD

Thank you all for your patience, especially if you were looking forward to reading about foods associated with a good Marriage and Family Life, and foods for good energies around Passion and Sex. This information comes from the book Fortune Telling With Food by Noriko Kuriyama. I’d love to hear feedback if you try any of these food suggestions out.

Marriage and Family Foods: Asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, corn, green peas, potatoes, pumpkin, soy beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, apples, bananas, figs, melons, peaches, pears, watermelon, lobster/shrimp, oysters cashews, rice, sesame seeds, walnuts, eggs, cookies, honey, and milk. You also get extra ‘points’ if you are a non-meat eater in regards to positive energy associated with marriage and family.

Passion and Sex Foods: Asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, pumpkin, soy beans, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, cherries, figs, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapple, tangerines, anchovies, clams, lobster/shrimp, cashews, macaroni, rice, sesame seeds, spaghetti/pasta, walnuts, eggs, honey, tea and wine. And again, any of you non-meat eaters gets extra points!

Have some fun with this. If you want to improve your marriage and family life, or if you want more passion and enjoyment from sex, try eating those foods more often, and see what happens!

Good luck!

(Next month – Business & Employment, and Brains & Intelligence)

OCTOBER’S SPECIAL

It’s a KISS Package Deal! Get the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Pendulum book, the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Oracle cards, and the Personal Empowerment Meditation CD – all three products- for one special price of $22 plus shipping. That is a greater than 35% savings when you order all three. Place your order now and get a jump start on your Christmas shopping. If you want to order more than one set, please email me for amounts (I can generally save you some money using a larger flat rate box). Otherwise, to order, please see the home page of my website, www.betsymbrown.com. The special will be listed on the front page.

Don’t forget to visit my blogs. Keep up with where I am and what I am doing. I may be in your area and would love to see you!

www.kisscard.blogspot.com – Daily KISS card and interpretation

www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com – Mostly metaphysical musings, with an occasional wild thought tossed in for your entertainment.

www.rv-virgins.blogspot.com – Follow my husband Kim and me as we travel around the US and Canada in our Ford pickup and 5th wheel trailer.

With loving blessings to you all,

~Betsy~

SEPTEMBER 2009 KISS(Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ NEWSLETTER

2009-09-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE AND BACK AGAIN

About a year ago, I noticed that it was looking like I would be spending a lot of 2009, working in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. My husband and I were in a position that it didn’t really matter where we lived. Our kids were grown and married. We had no grandchildren (yet). It was a good time for an adventure – to try living somewhere different. As I was going to be working in Hawaii anyway, it seemed like the obvious choice. Who wouldn’t want to live in Hawaii? So, we packed up most of our belongings and put it all in storage. We made arrangements for our daughter and her husband to live in our house. We shipped over a few items that would make the condo we were renting feel like home (some favorite pots and pans, our own silverware, some pictures, knickknacks, and a number of books).

Armed with our laptops, 2 suitcases each and 2 one way tickets, we boarded the new direct flight from Seattle to Kona on Alaska Airlines. We were ready for some new experiences.

Our condo had two bedrooms, once of which we converted to an office for me. The complex had a pool, and we were across the street from Magic Sands Beach. A pool for swimming, and the ocean for all the sea salt bathes I could possibly want. We had a lovely lanai with an east view. I know, most people enjoy a beautiful sunset, and so do I, but there is something about seeing the sun rise with the color of sky going from black to indigo to silvery blue to bright blue. It just brings hope and happiness to each day. Daytime temperatures hovered round 80 degrees with a nice breeze off the oceans. It truly was a feeling of paradise.

But apparently, even in paradise, shit happens. For me, it came in the form of stress in my work, and eventually the loss of my job just 60 days after arriving in Kona. I had heard that living on the Big Island often brought up root chakra (security) issues for people, but come on – I’d only been there for two months. As my step son used to say, “What did happen?” It happened so fast, all I could think was WTF.

Now my spiritual beliefs are such that I know that everything happens for a reason. I have lots of speculative ideas on why things happened the way they did, but ultimately it makes no difference. What happened, happened. I learned that instead of asking, “Why me?” - ask instead, “What’s next?” (Thank you Julia Cameron, author of The Artists Way).

Four months left on the lease. Enough money in savings that finding a job was not imperative if we budgeted well. Four months in Paradise with nothing to do. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Overall, it was lovely. Lovely, but not easy. I like to work. I like to stay busy. I like to be productive. Instead, I was just confused and without direction. Imagine thinking that you know exactly what your purpose was in life and were excited about doing it. I was strongly guided (and encouraged) to move to Hawaii. Other psychics and readers agreed. This really was part of my divinely guided path.

And then – BOOM – everything changes. Surely my divinely guided path did not include having the carpet pulled out from under me? Surely it did not include a total shake up to my confidence? Surely it did not include having to re-evaluate who I was, what I stood for, and what I planned to do with my life. Or did it?

Obviously it did, or it wouldn’t have happened. So again I ask, “Now what? Time to move on. What’s next?”

There is the saying “Time heals all wounds.” I think this is true, and the reason that it’s true is because life continues on. More experiences occur. Replacement drama happens. I’m still working through my feelings about living in ‘paradise’. I still think it is out there – paradise – the land of contentment, peace and joy. In fact, I somewhat facetiously intend to go looking for it. As my husband, Kim, and I take off on our new adventures as full time RVers, we will be traveling to places named Paradise. I hope to talk with people who live in those areas, and find out if they have found their paradise in Paradise. If you know of places named Paradise, please drop me a line and I will add it to my list of places to visit.

All that said, however, as any student of metaphysics really knows, there is no point in looking outside of yourself for paradise. For the only place paradise truly exists is within. So take a moment to ground and center, close your eyes, and tune into your divine perfect self. Now that’s Paradise!

SAINT MATTHEW

I just finished getting my 2008 Federal Income Tax information off to the accountant for processing. I don’t know why I always file an extension. I think I must of read somewhere about there being less chance of being audited if you do this. Why I would care, I’m not sure. I’m very honest with declaring my income, expenses, etc. Anyway, I went looking for a saint to write about and who should pop up but Matthew. Matthew, the apostle, was a tax collector. The first recorded information about Matthew comes in the bible in Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14. The story goes that Matthew (then known as Levi) was sitting at his tax collector's desk near the Sea of Galilee when Jesus told Matthew to follow him. And Matthew did. He just got up and went with Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had moments where I was so excited about a new idea, a new friend, a new project, that I just dropped what I was doing and went off in exploration of that idea. There is an incredible feeling of joy and eagerness just to be involved and to learn more.

The saying goes that nothing in life is certain, except death and taxes. We’ll leave the subject of death (which I just see as change) to another time, and look at taxes. The word tax has a few meanings. As a noun, it can refer to a percentage of income paid for support of the government or it can refer to a heavy demand, burden or strain. We all pay taxes in some form. Today, I will be dealing with the percentage of income I paid to the government. Today, I will see what percentage of what I previously paid will be released (aka refunded). Perhaps I will also take a look at what heavy demands I have placed on myself, and see how much of these burdens I am willing to release. Saint Matthew will help me, I’m sure.

Saint Matthew, help me to have joy in paying any taxes to help keep the government operating. Help me to gratefully accept any refund due for overpayment. And help me to release any self imposed taxes I have put on myself emotionally. I thankfully release the burden of unforgiveness for any past thoughts or deeds. Help me to embrace my spiritual path with utmost clarity and open my heart to the unlimited possibilities. And so it is.

USING A PENDULUM AS A DIVINATION TOOL

A pendulum is a divination tool, consisting of a weighted object, generally a crystal or a stone, suspended from a string or chain. A pendulum works through the autonomic nervous system. When a question is posed, the subconscious mind responds by creating an ideomotor response, which triggers a very subtle neuromuscular reaction, sending a signal from the brain to the fingers. This causes the pendulum to move.

As a divination tool, a pendulum is primarily used to ask Yes or No questions. For instance, if I were considering moving to a new home, I would ask “Is this move for my highest good?” I like to start my questions in a generalized format, and work toward specifics to get more clarity. For example, let’s say I asked about moving to California, and received a yes answer. I would then start asking if Northern, Central or Southern California would suit me best. And from there, I would go through counties and cities/towns.

It can also be used in conjunction with a series of charts on various subjects, as I have included in my book, KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Pendulum Charts. My charts include such subjects as Angels, Power Animals, Spiritual Healing Techniques, Chakras, Crystals and Counseling Areas. There are other books available that have charts for Herbal Remedies, Flower Essences, Food Supplements, Vitamins, Past Life information and so on.

I also use a pendulum as an indicator of energy clearing. The clearing itself is actually done on the etheric/spiritual plane by our celestial guides and angels. The pendulum spins to indicate that work is being done. I use this process when clearing chakras, or stuck energies in our auras, homes, etc.

Although divining rods are more commonly used, a pendulum can be used to find things, such as lost objects or water.

Like all divination tools, the more you work with the tool, the better you will become in using it. Practice does make perfect.

For more information on using a pendulum, please see my book, KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Pendulum Charts. They are available by clicking here:

www.betsymbrown.com

SEPTEMBER’S SPECIAL – KISS Pendulum Charts $11

What a surprise! For the month of September, I am offering the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Pendulum Charts at a more than 40% discount. Regularly priced at $17.95 US, this month you can get the book for just $11 plus shipping. The monthly special is listed on the front page of my website, www.betsymbrown.com

OTHER NEWS

In addition to my pendulum book, I have the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Oracle Cards available on my website as well as my meditation CD, Self Empowerment: Accessing the 12 Divine Powers Within. Personal Astrology and Numerology reports are also available.

Come visit my blogs! I have 4 right now, soon to be 6. Each offers a little something different.

Betsy’s Blah Blah Blog – www.betsysblahblahblog.blogspot.com

Daily KISS Oracle Card – www.kisscard.blogspot.com

KISS Newsletter Archive – www.kissnewsletter.blogspot.com

Diary of a Pair of RV-Virgins – www.rv-virgins.blogspot.com

The two upcoming blogs will be highlighting various churches and shrines through the US and Canada, as well as cities, towns, lakes, rivers and locations named Paradise.

Sending you blessings of peace,

~Betsy~

AUGUST 2009 KISS™ NEWSLETTER

2009-08-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

ASCENSION MADE EASY

Recently, I’ve been guided to articles, websites, and discussions on the topic of ascension. This has been such an ivory tower topic for me in the past. It’s all been theory without much practical application. I started thinking about what I knew about ascension, and it wasn’t much. My only references were the ascension of the Master Teachers Jesus and Babaji. I closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths to ground and center myself, and I just asked for a simple explanation of ascension.

This is what I received:

“The act of 'ascension' is simply the recovery of all the divine knowledge that you forgot during the early parts of your incarnation (birth/childhood). The ascension process is a mental one. True ascension is not a physical process. Ascension is the act of raising or increasing levels of understanding.”

I then asked about the articles I had read on the various physical symptoms that humans were feeling that were labeled part of the ascension process, ie:

Early morning (2-5am) awakening

Short term memory problems

Dietary changes such as a desire for fresh fruits and vegetables, and the need for more protein (animal or plant based)

Heightened sensitivity to noises, lights, violence, crowds

Dizziness

Headaches

Blurred vision

Heart palpitations

Easy crying

Panic attacks

Hot flashes

Wild dreams

Feelings of depression

Just not feeling yourself

“You live in a 3rd dimensional world. As your mind begins to understand, or more appropriately recall, the divine laws, your physical needs will change. Each human is unique, with his or her own personal requirements. A simple analogy would be to look at the various automobiles on your highways. There are different colors, different sizes, different tires requiring a different level of air, different engines requiring different weights of oil, and different types of tune ups needed at different times in the life of the vehicle. If your automobile is not running smoothly, it is not an effective approach to make changes without first determining what needs adjustment. Adding air to the tires will not help if the engine is 2 quarts low on oil.

"The same is true with the physical body. It makes no sense to give up eating red meat if what your body needs is exercise. Drinking large amounts of water will not help if your body requires more protein or Vitamin C to function effectively. Just because your teacher or mentor has become a breatharian does not mean that is the best choice for you.

"When your vehicle is not running smoothly, your first action should be to check the owner’s manual or handbook. The handbook for humans is the Mind of The Creator/God. Establish a connection with The Creator, through meditation and prayer.”

Today many teachers are telling us to make changes in the physical in order to achieve a higher level of vibration/ascension. Some say you need to sit in a certain style while you meditate, close your eyes, open your eyes, lay down, go outside, stare at a candle, eat certain foods, avoid alcohol, avoid caffeine, attend this church, chant this way, and so on. This is backwards. The truth of the matter is, or rather my truth on the matter is, that the ascension process is a mental one. Make the changes mentally (through meditation and prayer) and the physical changes you need for your vehicle (body) will come naturally. Some of us will find that avoiding certain foods or alcohol will help us vibrate more efficiently, and therefore be able to tune in to the divine more clearly. For others of us, it won’t matter what we eat or drink. Others may find that their divine guidance will come more easily when they are outside, communing with nature. Any physical changes we are asked to make will be different for each of us as each of our bodies have different requirements. When you follow your own divine guidance on all things, you know you are on the ascension path that is uniquely right for you. It’s as easy as that!

SAINT GEORGE

One day last month I was looking at art books at the library. I came across some artwork depicting Saint George and the Dragon. Imagine my surprise to find out that Saint George was a real person, and not just a character in a skit we did at Day Camp. (Remember, I am a Lutheran raised kid here who is just exploring the saints…..I really am somewhat educated, LOL).

Saint George was born in the area that we now know as Turkey in about 280 AD. He enlisted in the Roman Army at the age of 17. Very quickly, he established a reputation amongst his peers, for his virtuous behavior and physical strength as well as his military bearing and valor.

In the year 302 AD, an edict was issued that every Christian soldier in the Roman Army should be arrested and every other soldier should offer a sacrifice to the Pagan gods. George objected to this and with the courage of his faith approached the Emperor and ruler. George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his fellow soldiers and officers he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his faith in God and Jesus Christ. Attempts were made to convert George, even offering gifts of land, money and slaves, if he made a sacrifice to the Pagan gods. The Emperor made many offers, but George never accepted.

Recognizing the futility of his efforts, they were left with no choice but to have George executed for his refusal. Before the execution, George gave his wealth to the poor and prepared himself. After various torture sessions, including laceration on a wheel of swords in which he was resuscitated three times, George was executed on April 23, 303 AD.

Saint George is the patron saint of soldiers and cavalry. Apparitions of Saint George have appeared to many soldiers in the midst of battle. He was said to have appeared to the Crusader army at the Battle of Antioch in 1098 AD. Many similar stories were transmitted to the West by Crusaders who had heard them from Byzantine troops, and were circulated further by the troubadours. When Richard I was campaigning in Palestine in 1191 -92 AD he put the army under the protection of St George.

As one of the most widely venerated of all the Christian saints throughout the different branches of Christianity, he continues to be honored by diverse churches around the world. He has become the patron saint of many countries, the focus of much Christian art and sculpture, as well as the focus of popularmedieval legends. He was a particularly prominent saint during the Crusades and the Middle Ages, where he was honored for his military exploits and his courage against enemies, particularly the feared dragon (evil).

There have been several stories associated with Saint George. Most of the legends about George are apocryphal and perhaps metaphorical in nature. The Church has never officially held that these legends are literally true, but made use of them to illustrate some of its teachings. The best known of these stories is the Golden Legend. It is said that a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against the dragon, and had gone down in painful defeat. The fierce creature ate two sheep each day to be satisfied. When mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. (Side note – why is it always maidens?) Saint George was in the area, and learned that a princess had drawn the lot to be sacrificed that day. He faced the dragon, protected himself with the sign of the cross, slayed the dragon with a single blow from his sword and rescued the princess. George then delivered a magnificent sermon, and the grateful citizens abandon their ancestral paganism and convert to Christianity. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, and then rode away.

Pope Gelasius I included George among those saints 'whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God'. The virtues associated with Saint George include courage, honor and fortitude in defense of faith in God, and remain important to this day.

Call on Saint George for help in battling Ego’s Dragons (fears and worries), and for faith and courage to speak your truth and to stand up for what you believe in.

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS AS DIVINATION TOOLS

The more we become attuned to our divine guidance, the more we come to depend on it. We access our divine guidance through 4 primary paths – commonly called the ‘four clairs’. These are clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, and claircognizance.

Signs and symbols are forms of clairvoyance (or clear seeing). We see repetitive or unusual things in our day to day lives, and at some point we recognize that it is not coincidence. There is a meaning or a message to that sign or symbol.

Books have been written on meanings of such signs and symbols such as numbers, colors, shapes, planets, animals, angels, and so on. But these signs and symbols don’t always have universal meanings. Some signs and symbols are individual to each of us. Don’t discount these symbols if they differ from what you may have read in books.

World famous medium, John Edward, is a prime example. In the course of a reading, it’s not unusual to hear him say something along the lines of “They are showing me __________ and to me that means __________. “

One of the best tarot readings I have had recently, the reader had a very different interpretation of the card than one typically reads in a tarot guidebook. This happens with oracle cards all the time. Numbers may have a different meaning to you than they do to me, and other than they do to numerologists. Same is true with all things we use in divination.

We hear it over and over and over again from teachers we respect. In all things, put more emphasis on your own interpretation of things than on what others may say. You will find that sometimes you agree with others, and sometimes you will have a different interpretation. Whether you are doing a reading for a client, or interpreting messages for yourself, the messages are coming through in a manner unique to you. Trust what you get. Trust what those signs and symbols mean to you.

Affirmation: I easily interpret signs and symbols in my own unique way.

FORTUNE TELLING WITH FOOD (Follow up)

Unfortunately this book got packed for our move back to the mainland, and I haven't found that box yet. I will follow up on this next month with foods that benefit Marriage/Family and Passion/Sex. Stay tuned!

AUGUST SPECIAL - EMAIL READINGS 50% OFF

KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ Readings are for those that need insight regarding what step to take next. This month, I will offer these readings at $11 per question/concern. I will utilize the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ pendulum charts and KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)™ oracle cards to help you determine how to stay on your personal path. These readings are for those that know the basic direction in which they are headed, but need a little nudge. I can help you determine which angels and ascended masters to call on, which intuitive tools to utilize, which teachers or healing modalities would assist you, and more. Also included in the reading is a short channelled message from your angels.

Just click on the August Special on my home page at www.betsymbrown.com to access the special rate. Please include your question/concern in the comment section, along with your first name, and any other information you feel is pertinent.

To purchase your own KISS Pendulum Chart book (a step by step beginners guide to using a pendulum) or KISS Oracle cards, please see www.betsymbrown.com.

PERSONAL UPDATE

As you might already know, I am no longer working in the position of Program Administrator for Doreen Virtue LLC. I am embarking on my own journey, creating as I go. My husband and I have purchased an RV and our plans are to travel around the US and Canada for the next few years. I'm interested in teaching and sharing about the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) aspect of spiritual growth to small groups and gatherings. If you would be interested in having me speak in your area, please send me an email to betsy@betsymbrown.com

With blessings of peace,
~Betsy~

JULY 2009 KISS™ NEWSLETTER

2009-08-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me at this time. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS

We’ve all had to make them. What makes a decision more difficult than a choice? Is it the energy behind it? A choice seems simple. I’ll have the chocolate cake instead of the carrot cake. I’ll wear my jeans instead of my khaki pants. A decision is more important. Perhaps it has more long term effects. No big deal if you eenie, meenie, miney, moe a choice, but would you use this technique to make a major life decision such as where to live? Or whom to marry? Or what investment to make?

Metaphysics teaches that every experience is an opportunity to grow spiritually. An experience can come through a choice, a decision or some other circumstance. No matter what method we use to make a choice or a decision about something, or how we react to a circumstance that we experience, we will learn and grow from it.

I have been re-reading the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer (a definite must read if you like a good story), and in one scene, Edward and Alice are arguing about who should go first. They each have special powers. Edward can read thoughts and Alice can see the future. Alice suggested playing Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who went first. Edward’s comment was “Why don’t you just tell me who wins?” It actually does not make any sense because Edward would be able to tell whether Alice was thinking whether to choose rock, paper or scissors and adjust his choice. But I digress. My point was going to be that usually we do not use Rock,Paper,Scissors or Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe to make an important decision. A list of pros and cons about a situation might be a good alternative. How about a tarot spread? A psychic reading? Listening to the still small voice in your head? Trusting your gut feelings?

I once worked a job that I loved. However, things were happening in relation to that work that kept me up at night fretting about what was going on. Part of me was thinking that it was time to quit, but another part was thinking why leave a job you love working with people you like? Wouldn’t this situation eventually pass and things return to normal? I did the sensible thing. I made a list of pros and cons. The cons far out-numbered the pros. I didn’t like that answer, so I drew an oracle card – “Move Forward Fearlessly”. Surely that can’t be right. So I did a tarot spread. Guess what the outcome card was? Death! (If you haven’t studied the tarot, the Death card doesn’t refer to physical death – although I suppose it could – it never has in any spread I’ve done). The Death card means transition, change, the inkling of a new beginning. Nope –still didn’t like those answers. Might as well check in with my pendulum. Is leaving this job for my highest good? Yes. How can that be? It’s a well paying job that I enjoy doing. Yet, the situation continued to keep me up at night. My next step, journaling. Same basic answer came through there…..Make some changes if you are not happy. There was only one more thing to do – procrastinate!

Whether you consider yourself psychic or not, I’m betting you can guess what happened next. I no longer had to make a decision – it was made for me. I was fired, released, let go – whatever term you want to use. Not by my choice. Not by my decision. Just by my circumstances. My left brain (the pros and cons list) and my right brain (oracle card, tarot spread, pendulum and automatic writing) saw the writing on the wall. In retrospect, I can see this situation was neither good nor bad. It just was. Abraham-Hicks would probably say that I was out of vibrational alignment with this job, and that the outcome was inevitable. Our highest good always is (inevitable). Sometimes it is just easier to recognize that good than it is at others. Live and learn. It’s all good!

SAINT PETER

Of all the apostles, Peter has to be my favorite. He was impetuous, exuberant, and full of questions. He made rash statements and then immediately regretted them. He was constantly pulling his foot out of his mouth. He was so human! Most every one of us can relate to Peter in some way, especially when we start on a new path of learning/study about which we are excited.

I swear I must have known Peter during a past life. I can understand easily what he was all about. Here’s Simon (his birth name), getting ready to start his work day as a fisherman. He gets into a conversation with this man, Jesus. They both feel the connection. Jesus says, “Come with me. “ Simon drops what he is doing, even offers to go round up some family and friends, and becomes Jesus’ BFF. Jesus even gives Simon a new nickname – Peter, The Rock. Off they go, Jesus and his entourage. Jesus serves in the role of teacher. Peter serves as his personal assistant and student. Peter watches Jesus and listens to all he says, trying to make sense of it all. Perhaps Peter felt at times like I do now, trying to understand anything and everything about the ascension process. A bit baffled, but full of faith. One evening, Peter and friends are out fishing, and a storm comes up. They were concerned for their safety. Peter looks out the stern of the boat, and here comes Jesus – walking on water, for crying out loud! Jesus calls to him. Peter probably takes a deep breath, thinking okay – I can do this. Full of faith, he steps off the boat and Holy Toledo, he is walking on water. Well, you all know the story of what happens next. Ego kicks in, and Peter immediately sinks. Jesus, of course, reaches out and saves him with a small admonition of “Oh, ye of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt”. Nowadays, Peter would probably be thinking, “Huh? Criminey sakes, I am just human! But boy that was so cool for the moment.”

And we all know the story where Jesus is telling his disciples about his upcoming death, and Jesus says it will get so bad, even Peter will deny knowing me. Peter says, “No way.” Jesus says, “Way, man. Before the roosters crow in the morning, you will have denied me three times.” Who knew Jesus was a psychic? And of course, when the rooster crows the next morning, Peter has just lied for the 3rd time saying he did not know Jesus. Can you imagine how Peter felt? I think I can. I’ve been caught telling lies before – I’ve done things I’m not proud of.

Peter studied with Jesus for the two years of Jesus’ ministry. He must have learned a thing or two about faith. Peter was the first disciple to perform a miracle after Jesus’ ascension. He facilitated the healing of a crippled man at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem. Peter was a bit outspoken and passionate in his beliefs, so much so that he was arrested a time or two. Peter astonished the other apostles by suddenly appearing in their midst, after having miraculously been freed from his prison chains. First, he escapes the chains, then he teleports to meet up with his friends. Way to go Peter! If Peter can do it, theoretically, so can I, right? Maybe someday – without the chain and prison part – but definitely the teleporting!

Peter teaches us to jump into things with both feet. If it excites you and you feel a connection, a passion for it, just do it. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, pray for guidance and/or forgiveness, and move on.

USING ORACLE CARDS AS A DIVINATION TOOL

Oracle cards are one of my favorite divination tools. They come in various sizes, and may have pictures or words or numbers on them. Examples would include a traditional Ryder-Waite Tarot deck, Healing With The Angels Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue, The Psychic Tarot by John Holland, Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards by Steven Farmer, The Grace Cards by Cheryl Richardson, The Answer is Simple Oracle Cards by Sonia Choquette, or (shamelessly plug to follow) the KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) Oracle cards by yours truly. Most decks of cards come with an instruction manual. You may want to keep it around to review from time to time, but you most likely won’t need it. The cards will ‘speak’ to you. When you use oracle cards for a reading, you are receiving information psychically through your four ‘clairs’ (clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, and claircognizance). The insights are being directed by your angels and guides, and other celestial beings.

Working with oracle cards is very easy. You first prepare yourself for the spiritual work by praying or meditating, setting a sacred space perhaps by lighting a candle or some incense, calling in your angels and guides (as well as the angels and guides of your client if you are working with one). As you shuffle the cards, ask that the cards be cleared of prior energy so that they are ready for you and your client. As you are doing this, think about the question or situation. Then lay out the spread. You can use whatever spread is suggested in the guide book. You can adapt any spread you may read about in a book on tarot. You can make up your own spread. You can trust the guidance you are receiving at the time. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Trusting your intuition is the main thing.

Now, look at the card. Pick it up if you like. What attracts your attention about the card? Is there something in the picture that catches your eye? Is there a color? A number? A word? What visual images are you accessing? A memory? A picture? A situation? What are you feeling in your body? Are you hearing anything? Or remembering something someone said or did? Anything you think, feel, see, hear, know, taste, or smell (in real life or as a memory) is part of the interpretation of the card in this reading. Remember, the actual words on the card may or may not be a significant part of the reading. Angels and guides use the tools you have provided them. It’s up to you to interpret the underlying meanings of each card. Work with your client to decipher the guidance. Keep it simple. Just start talking about what you are getting. As you begin to process it, more information will come through, and pretty soon you will be sharing something amazing. You’ll listen to what just came out of your mouth, and think “Whoa – where did that come from?” The more let go and just trust, the easier it will become.

FORTUNE TELLING WITH FOOD – FOLLOW UP

Initially, I was going to look at the foods that were associated with abundance and good health, and eat mostly those things this past month so I could report back to you. Well, that didn’t happen, so what I will do is list the foods that are associated with Good Luck/Fortune and Health/Well Being this month. August we can do Marriage/Family and Passion/Sex, and in September Business/Employment and Brains/Intelligence. This information is coming from the book Fortune Telling With Food by Noriko Kuriyama. I’d love to hear feedback if you try any of these food suggestions out.

Good Luck and Fortune foods: Asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, kidney beans, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, soy beans, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, yams, bananas, figs, grapes, lemons, melons, strawberries, tangerines, lobster, shrimp, oysters, scallops, breads, cashews, oatmeal, rice, sesame seeds, pasta, sunflower seeds, walnuts, honey, popcorn, yogurt, milk and tea. Also non-meat eaters rate higher than meat eaters in this category.

Health and Well Being foods: Asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumbers, green beans, green onions, green peas, kidney beans, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, soy beans, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, yams, apples, bananas, cherries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, melons, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapples, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, clams, lobster, shrimp, oysters, salmon, scallops, sole, oatmeal, rice, sesame seeds, pasta, walnuts, honey, yogurt, green tea, and milk. Again, non-meat eaters rate higher than meat eaters in this category.

Let me know if you have any big positive changes through eating these foods.

With loving blessings,
~Betsy~

JUNE 2009 KISS™ NEWSLETTER

2009-08-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

KEEPING IT SIMPLE – THE LITTLE PLEASURES IN LIFE

Don’t you just love book stores? I feel like a kid in a candy shop – only better – when I visit one. There is a great second hand book store here in Kona called Kona Bay Books. I find such treasures there. The clerks often ask “Did you find what you were looking for?” – and my answer is “Yes – that and more!” As I walk up and down the aisles, just letting my gaze wander, it always is a surprise what will catch my attention. On a recent visit, I discovered a book called Fortune Telling With Food: How Foods Change Your Body and Character by Noriko Kuriyama. It was just too delicious (pun intended) to pass up, so I got it to go (I’m on a roll – LOL that one was an accident). I’m not sure that I agree with or share the beliefs of the author, but it is a fun read. I’ll share a few of the section titles – based on the food that I love. The theories apply to those foods that you love in all forms, boiled, baked, fried, raw (if safe to eat it this way), etc.

Carrot-lovers have secret talents.

Eat cauliflower and become a pure-hearted prince or princess.

Corn-lovers are just plain ordinary folks.

You are lucky if your cucumber eating spouse is impressed with you.

Green pea-lovers laugh gently but they love sex.

Onion-lovers are strong day and night.

Potato-lovers get along especially well with their spouses.

Soybean-lovers are hot in love and they have good luck in the end.

Loving a squash-lover has its ups and downs.

Sweet potato-lovers make the best partners.

Tangerine-lovers get luckier and luckier.

Scallop-lovers will climb every mountain and ford every stream.

Knowledge, love and money come to bread-lovers.

Cookie-lovers are as tempting as cookies on a plate.

Ice cream cravers work best in groups.

Beer quaffers are satisfied with their lots in life.

No matter how much they try, coffee-lovers will never rule the world.

So I guess that means, I am an ordinary person, who has her own ups and downs. I am satisfied with my lot in life, but also know that luck is always on my side, even though I will never rule the world. Because knowledge, love and money come to me easily, I make a good partner and I work well with groups. My spouse is lucky because not only am I as tempting as a plate of cookies, I’m hot in love, strong day and night, and I’m definitely impressed with him. I’m willing to climb every mountain and ford every stream with him while I eat my cauliflower so that I remain pure hearted, now and always.

But enough about me……

Here’s a few other of the author’s insights that might apply to you. (These are the ones that made me chuckle.)

Beets – Their chief characteristic is that they have no chief characteristic.

Cabbage – No one is more passionate than the lover of raw cabbage.

Green Bean – Green beaners flower young.

Mushrooms – Mushroom lovers are fortunate in sex. Could they be geniuses?

Rhubarb – Rhubarb lovers should join a group.

Turnips – Turnip lovers do well in the stock market.

Cherries – If only cherry lovers had a good sense of humor.

Papaya – Papaya lovers can do it three times a night.

Strawberries – Strawberry lovers don’t have good sex techniques, but they can keep it going a long time.

Now, keep in mind, I have only flipped through this book, reading the section headings. Maybe by next month I will have read the entire book, and can share with you which foods to eat to improve your love life, your finances and your career. Maybe we can really keep it simple by eating the right foods to manifest our goals! Are you willing to try? I’m off to get some papaya and maybe some turnips….

PSYCHIC/DIVINATION TOOLS

This month we explore clairaudience. Clairaudience means clear hearing. It is about receiving divine guidance through your auditory senses. Sometimes the words a clairaudient hears are in his/her own head or mind. Sometimes it sounds like it is coming from an outside source. It may sound like your own voice. Or it may sound like another’s voice. It varies for everyone. In fact, sometimes there is no volume at all, it is a perception of spoken words. One of the easiest ways to work with your clairaudient skills is to spend through automatic writing or journaling. Just prepare yourself for meditation, call in your angels and/or guides, and ask a question. Then just begin writing what you ‘hear’ – It’s a bit like taking dictation. As soon as you get comfortable doing this, you will begin to be more comfortable just listening and trusting. Trusting what you get, in my opinion, is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

To sharpen your clairaudient skills, spend some time sitting outside, with your eyes closed, and just listen to all the sounds you are hearing. You will be amazed at all the sounds that are around you. The mind hears it all. By becoming aware of what you are hearing, you are strengthening those clairaudient muscles.

It’s always good to keep your ear chakras clear and clean as well. The ear chakras are right in front of the ears. If you place your fingers at the outer corners of your eyes and move them toward the ears, your ear chakras are just before the opening to the ear. The color often associated with these chakras is a red-violet color. For me, it’s more of a blue violet and that’s the color I visualize when I’m doing an ear chakra clearing. You should use the color that feels right to you. There are many ways to clear and clean your chakras. I have two meditations/visualizations that I often use with the ear chakras. First is to visual the chakra (like a wheel or spinning circle) with the clear, crisp color. If your ear chakra appears dirty or dull to you, ask your angels and guides to help you clean it and return it to its high functioning status. The other visualization I use is like a form of dental floss or laser beam, scraping off any residue that may be clogging the chakra. The point is not how you clean your chakras, it is just that you do clean them.

Crystals associated with opening the ear chakras include blue fluorite and sapphire, as well as plantinum and diamonds. (Sounds like a great reason for treating yourself to some new earrings, don’t you think?)

Affirmation: I clearly hear the voice of divine guidance.

SAINT BENEDICT OF NURSIA

On one of our ‘tourist’ days here on the Big Island, my husband Kim and I went out to see the Painted Church. I was so enthralled with this lovely little church and its history. It was originally located on the shores near Honaunau (The Place of Refuge). When the local inhabitants moved up to a higher elevation, to the cooler climates, Father John Velghe followed, bringing the church with him. In the summer of 1902, a bishop of Honolulu visited the renovated church, consecrated it, and named it in honor of Saint Benedict.

Now, honestly, I really wanted to write about Father John Velghe and how he painted scenes inside the church using regular house paint. Father Velghe was an amateur artist and the scenes inside the church are just amazing. However, he is not (yet) a saint, and because this part of the newsletter is about exploring the various saints, I felt compelled to follow that guideline. So I will focus on the saint, after whom the Painted Church was officially named – St Benedict Roman Catholic Church.

And speaking of guidelines, anyone who knows me knows that I love rules. (I may not love to abide by them, but I like the security of knowing that they are there to provide boundaries and structure for expected behavior). Benedict had a reputation of holiness, wisdom and miracles that was wide spread. Although he preferred the life of a hermit, he had many followers. In 530, he began to build a monastery and organized the monks into a single community. It was there that he wrote the Rule of St Benedict which is commonly used by monasteries and monks to this date – 1400 years after it was written. The rules are both spiritual and administrative in nature. They provide guidance in how to live a spiritual life while staying organized. This is my kind of monk!

More than a set of do’s and don’ts, the Rule of Benedict is guide on how to live a life centered in God and in community with others. From a layman’s point of view, it asks that we see the Christ in others, whether that other is a family member, a friend, a coworker or a stranger. It provides a model for our daily interactions; a guide for how to face our responsibilities and obligations at home, at work and in our communities.

If you are interested in reading the rules, they are listed here on the Order of Saint Benedict website:

http://www.osb.org/rb/text/toc.html

By the way, in case you are like me, and the only reference you had (prior to reading the above) to Saint Benedict was the liqueur known as Benedictine (often served with brandy) – that ‘elixer’ that was made from mixing 27 different plants and spices, from all corners of the globe, with honey, sugar and alcohol. It was not named after Saint Benedict himself, but rather after the monks in the Benedictine monastery where the liqueur was produced up until the time of the French Revolution. You can add that to your trivia bank in case it ever comes up.

With blessings of peace,
~Betsy~

MAY 2009 KISS™ NEWSLETTER

2009-08-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you for subscribing to the KISS Newsletter. This is the inaugural issue. My name is Betsy Brown. My philosophy is to always keep things simple. We have the potential to create as much complexity in our lives as we desire. My desire is to keep the complexity level low, and the simplicity level high. It works for me. We are all teachers and we are all students. When we are wearing the teacher hat, we share what is true for us at that time. Our beliefs will shift and change with the times, and our ideals and personal ideologies will develop through our own experiences. I’m sharing with you my thoughts and beliefs as they exist currently. They may change. They may stay the same. Whatever they are, they are true for me. I offer them to you for your consideration. Explore what rings true for you. Discard the rest. It’s all good.

WHY KEEP IT SIMPLE?

It’s a starting off place. When I was in high school, I had a chemistry class in which I was struggling. I asked my dad for some help in understanding it all. He had an under-graduate degree in chemistry, and had gone to medical school, and was a practicing physician. He ought to be able to explain what I was supposed to be learning in clear and simple terms. He asked to look at my textbook, and he began reading. He kept reading. He read for a few hours. So much for finishing my home work early so I could go hang out with my friends. Now I was frustrated with chemistry and my dad. When I started to complain, my dad just cut me off. He reminded me that I was studying basic chemistry and while he had studied simple chemistry years ago, it did not have practical application in his current day to day life. He had learned the basics, and it became part of his innate understanding. Trying to explain it to me would require him to tune it back a notch and speak in terms that would be meaningful for me. To do that, he went back to the elementary text to refresh his memory on what would make sense to someone just beginning to study the subject of chemistry.

If you have subscribed to this newsletter, I am guessing you are probably interested in the field of metaphysics and psychic development. You may be reading this newsletter just to explore a new avenue to spiritual understanding. You may be reading it for hints on how to be a better spiritual counselor or psychic reader. I could talk about the upper levels of vibration, and how clearing programs at those levels, in various lifetimes, in various dimensions, would help you with the ascension process. If that sentence makes sense to you, you may not find what you are looking for here. On the other hand, if you are looking to find out more information on the basics of using a variety of different modalities and divination tools as you proceed along your day to day spiritual journey, you may find something of interest here. I hope so.

By the way, that was the only chemistry class I took. I passed the class, but also had to listen to the “if you only had applied yourself a little bit more” lecture that I’m sure you probably have heard yourself, one time or another. On the other hand, I aced anatomy! And I’m still fascinated with anatomy, the human body and how it works. Pay attention to what grabs your interest, and experience the joy in learning more about it.

I want to explore the basics of what we call metaphysics. I’ll touch a little bit on this, and a little bit on that. When you find a topic that really clicks with you, I encourage you to go explore some more. Develop that interest, until it no longer interests you, and then continue on. If it doesn’t interest you, why spend the time studying it?

My goal with this newsletter is to introduce a variety of subjects, and to share the simple basics of that topic. I hope you enjoy my perspective.

PSYCHIC/DIVINATION TOOLS

This is the first in a series of tips on developing your intuition using the various psychic skills and divination tools that are available to us. Let’s start with clairvoyance.

Clairvoyance is the receiving of intuitive information via the visual sense. It is a common misconception that clairvoyance means seeing things psychically as three dimensional items. It certainly can be, but that is not the only way to receive messages visually. Some people get clairvoyant messages via visions seen inside their minds eye, a bit like a movie playing. Some people see the visions outside of their minds – like it is appearing before them in the physical sense. For others, and I would venture a guess that this is most of us, it is accessing the visual cortex of our minds to see images or instances that we have stored in our memory. For instance, if I asked you to go to the store to buy me a lemon, and you got to the store only to find that there were no signs indentifying what was what in the produce section, you undoubtedly would still be able to locate a lemon. Why? Because you know what a lemon looks like. Sitting there, right now, reading this, you can probably conjure up the thought/vision of a lemon. Strengthening those visual memories will improve your clairvoyance, in the psychic sense. Spend some time today exercising those visual tools. It doesn’t really matter what you are visualizing, but for the purpose of keeping things simple, and fun, think of something that brings you joy. Perhaps your favorite vacation spot, a favorite day with loved ones, or your favorite pet. Just get a vision of whatever you choose in your mind. Now play with it a little. Sharpen the colors. Change the colors. Move the vision further away. Bring it in closer. Just play with it. If you spend just a few minutes each day doing this type of exercise, you will find your clairvoyant abilities improving, easily and effortlessly.

EXPLORING THE SAINTS

Although my current affiliation is with the Unity Church, I was raised in the Lutheran Church. I’m a little baffled as to why I have this sudden interest in the Saints, but I do, so I will use this brief section to explore a different Saint each month. Perhaps my interest comes from the fact that these Saints lived on earth, dealt with their own human problems, and were able to achieve a way of life that was deserving of ‘Sainthood’. From 365 Saints: Your Daily Guide To The Wisdom And Wonder Of Their Lives by Woodeene Koenig-Bricker:

“So what are the saints really like? All too often, we think of them as heavenly Goody Two-Shoes who did nothing except pray, perform good deeds and make everyone feel guilty for not living up to their example. While some of the saints did spend all (or most) of their time praying and doing good deeds (and probably making others feel guilty), the majority were real people – with all the foibles, eccentricities and charm of real people. That’s what makes the saints so interesting…."

When I was a teenager, I would often whine about wanting this or that, because so and so had it, why couldn’t I? My mother used to tell me that she only owed me these things: shelter, food, and to make sure I received a decent education, and to give me the tools with which to make good decisions. To her, the latter meant a religious upbringing and education…..just what most teenagers really want, right?

St John Baptist de la Salle, the patron saint of teachers, was a young man from a well to do family, who was ordained as a priest, and called to minister to and teach the underprivileged. He was an educational pioneer, credited with the idea of separating students into classes based on their mental maturity, what we now think of as the different grade levels in our schools. He was a strong advocate of teaching in the vernacular – using the local language to teach, rather than teaching in Latin which was the custom of the time. Not only did he form training schools for teachers, but he also established schools for the children of the poor and underprivileged. In addition, John Baptist de la Salle was instrumental in the creation of schools for what we would call delinquents from all social classes – poor to wealthy. He inspired others how to teach and care for young people with compassion, and to give them the tools, (education and religious philosophy) to improve their lives.

I think my mom would have been pleased to know that when my kids whined about not getting the newest video game, a fancy car, or $200 jeans, I said to them, “You know, all I really need to give you is a roof over your head, food to eat, make sure you receive a decent education, and basic spiritual guidelines so that you can make decisions in your life based on common sense and faith.” Maybe my mother did actually know a thing or two.

“You too can perform miracles by touching the hearts of the children confided to your care.” - St. John Baptist de al Salle

With blessings of peace,
~Betsy~